Post by exoticimports on May 15, 2014 9:15:10 GMT -8
On the topic of westward (reverse wind) direction: I inquired on a batocera website why kibleri was found on Bougainville and San Christobal, with a similar species (but not kibleri) on Malaita, and no similar large batocera on Guadalcanal or Western Province. The answer I got is that they were probably driven by hurricanes; this was contrary to my understanding of Pacific hurricanes, but I checked the history and sure enough there have been hurricanes that head east. To date, that is the best explaination I've heard. So same could be said for other animals as well.
There are no Ornithoptera on Rennell or Balona. Nor, I believe, Ulawa.
While Victoria may indeed be a more primitive species, the reaction may be to point out the vast difference between the Makira ssp and the nominate, and infer that Victoria has been on Makira a long time. However, I think this is grossly flawed with Victoria, considering the Western Province ssp which arguably is the most drasticly different yet much closer to Bville. Besides which, Victoria is so damned variable that one oddball female landing on Makira one hundred years ago could account for the variation.
I consider the point of how Victoria gets to Makira to be moot. I have no doubt (but no proof!) that it has been on Makira in the past (since it's virtually impossible not to) yet did not survive as a race. In fact, I suspect that it IS there, just not found yet. It just isn't in KiraKira village. If Polyura Jupiter can go unnoticed, so can urvilleanus.
There are no Ornithoptera on Rennell or Balona. Nor, I believe, Ulawa.
While Victoria may indeed be a more primitive species, the reaction may be to point out the vast difference between the Makira ssp and the nominate, and infer that Victoria has been on Makira a long time. However, I think this is grossly flawed with Victoria, considering the Western Province ssp which arguably is the most drasticly different yet much closer to Bville. Besides which, Victoria is so damned variable that one oddball female landing on Makira one hundred years ago could account for the variation.
I consider the point of how Victoria gets to Makira to be moot. I have no doubt (but no proof!) that it has been on Makira in the past (since it's virtually impossible not to) yet did not survive as a race. In fact, I suspect that it IS there, just not found yet. It just isn't in KiraKira village. If Polyura Jupiter can go unnoticed, so can urvilleanus.
