Peter brings up a very good point concerning species characteristics. Many species carry characteristics which in no way enhance their survival but, more importantly, do not hinder their survival. In Hawaii's cowries there are a couple (at leaest) of fine examples: The Grooved-Toothed Cowry (C. sulcidentata) has its deeply cut interstices which serve no function and the Checkered Cowry has those outrageous blotches on it sides and a mantle that is all but transparent! I can spot them from yards away on a night dive. So what keeps this characteristic from betraying its presence to the many predators with the eye- sight to spot it and the ability to feed on it? The lack of light, that's what. These cowries only venture out in the darkest of dark nights, so what do those spots count for? There have to be many other instances where species have traits that have no real function. Our mistake is that we think everything SHOULD have a purpose. Aloha, 'makuabob' _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com