New Python Species... Technically?

[Vypyrz]

Ok, so here is what I have been thinking, and I may be wayyyy out there on this. The python problem in Florida has been blamed on a population of Burms that escaped during hurricane Andrew and adapted to life in the everglades and started breeding. Hurricane Andrew was 17 years ago so you have possibly 16 generations of pythons which were born and living in the everglades. Now to me that makes them native to the everglade environment.
I wonder if anyone has done any type of research or studies to see if the DNA or genetics of these American pythons has started to differ from the true Burms. I can imagine at some point it would, even though it may be hundreds or thousands of years. Anyway, I think the everglades pythons should be considered a sub-species and therefore called "Python Seminolidae", the Seminole Python...

[DM1975]

I remember someone telling me that a specias has to be in an area for over 100 years to be considerd "native"

But I do not know exactly how that works as they still are not native, but then again pheasants, horses, and cows were all non-native too.

[Russ Lawson]

Because they are isolated, and from a small portion of the total Burmese python population, it is a feasible idea that genetic drift could eventually result in a different species. This process would most likely take at the very least several hundred years though...

[_Venom_]

More like several thousand years.

[ssballow]

Wild pigs have been in the western hemisphere for hundreds of years and still are not considered native. You can hunt them year round with no license.

[Brewster320]

Not to mention there are some wild retics and rocks down there as well, not as much as the burms though so I'd imagen over time they'd just start crossing with the burms do to a lack of normal mates and a strong drive to breed and it could speed the process up a bit fast. In theory that is.

[771subliminal]

then after 16 generations wouldnt snakes bred in captivity genticly differ from the ones in the wild too?

[Seneschal]

then after 16 generations wouldnt snakes bred in captivity genticly differ from the ones in the wild too?

Maybe, but why would they change if there's no environmental need to change? Other than, of course, the lack of natural selection (I.E. humans' tendency to force feed if necessary, to get a slow baby started, medical procedures which save a weaker animal from death which would have died in the wild, thus preventing the weak genes from being passed on) I can't really see why they would change that much. I mean, in the case of dogs, horses, and other domesticated animals, they were bred for a specific purpose; to be companion animals, work animals, to carry loads, etc. and the parents were specifically selected for their ability to do one of those things well; over time, that resulted in the breeds and such we see today. Even then, dogs are still entirely compatible (genetically speaking) with their wild ancestors, the wolves. As snakes are not being selectively bred for temperament, behavioral traits, or physical abilities other than color, I would expect that there would be very little evolution other than perhaps more color.

The animals in the Everglades, on the other hand, are dealing with environmental changes; termperatures, humidity, wetness, predation, prey availability and type, and competition. There would inevitably be a considerable number of factors contributing to the need to evolve and adapt to a new environment. However--sixteen generations wouldn't be enough for that, I think. I believe that would take more like hundreds of generations.

This is a VERY interesting topic though! Good question! I like reading everyone's responses.

[MarkS]

I think 16 generations is really pushing things. I doubt that there is anyone out in the everglades power feeding them to get them up to breeding size.

[jblaze]

I think 16 generations is really pushing things. I doubt that there is anyone out in the everglades power feeding them to get them up to breeding size.

Apparently their appetite is sending several law makers hay wire due to the fact that they are preying on all "native species."