Val: I really don't know about that sort of stuff...history and biology aren't my strongsuit. Basically if I can't ride it, I'm not interested.
Cameron: You are talking about the pupil thing right? Not the fact that arctic foxes tend to have slanted eyes compared to their non-arctic counterparts?
Nick: I've actually kind of wondered about that myself...it's one of those things you keep telling yourself you'll look up, and then you just never do, y'know?
Qali: Oh, well I can answer that! I mean I think I can...*scratches chin thoughtfully* I remember in middle school they said evolutionists thought arctic foxes eyes became more slanted and squinty due to it helping to keep snow out of them in the blustery and frigid tundra weather. Sorta like how our ears are smaller to help us better regulate our body heat compared to normal foxes and Fennecs.
Nick: When your eyes are actually open, they're almost as big as Carrots...I can't imagine any amount of squinting or slanting could keep those eyes from going snowblind...*Chuckles*
Cameron: Evolution is fast and sporadic in Animalia, at least since the whole 'mammalian awakening period' or whatever they called it back in highschool at the onset of the ice age. After that point, mammalian evolution started moving double-time...I wouldn't be surprised if arctic fox eyes were smaller at the height of the primal age only to have grown larger since then as they moved away from daily survival and attraction of mates became more important...but I couldn't tell you...there's a reason I'm a graphic designer and not a biologist or evolutionary scholar.
Val: But you're the one who said you knew why red foxes were occasionally born with slit eyes...
Cameron: Just because I said I wasn't a biology student, doesn't mean I didn't pay attention in school my little Motobug. *chuckles* I paid attention in class, especially when my species came up in discussion that wasn't totally negative.
Nick: So enlighten us old mam', my hackles are standing on end with anticipation...
Cameron: Pft...old Mam'...I have half a mind to...*Holds up paws and shakes head* No, no, it's not worth it...*Ahem* Anyway, the 'slit eye' or 'cat's eye' as it's often referred to in foxes manifests for two reasons...one reason is of course that sometimes lingering ancient strands of DNA thought to be gone will happen to manifest for one reason or another out of the blue in mammals. My co-worker Derrick suffers from a similar condition, in that he was born with single solid hooves for paws instead of the more common 'hoof fingers' among ungulate prey, similar to ancient horses.
Val: Oh yeah! Kodi has one of those...things...
Cameron: He does? Huh...I've never noticed...what kind of Genetic Holdover Deformity does he have...?
Val: Uhhh...*Sweats* It's...uh...well it's uh...his....ears are weird...yeah, that's it! It's really subtle, you'd never notice!
Cameron: Huh...in what way?
Val: Hey, so that slit-eye thing right?
Cameron: Ah right...I suppose I'm getting off track...
Val: *Phew*...
Cameron: Anyway, so yeah I'm not exactly sure of the term, but I believe it's something like 'Genetic Holdover Deformity' or something similar...but the other reason is that it's a more common genetic trait in far eastern foxes and some native species...
Nick: So...like Japandese foxes?
Cameron: Correct...and some tribes of native North Mammalian Foxes. Similar to Roaropean sheep, our evolutionary development favored the round pupil. And since Roaropeans came to displace a lot of North Mammalian foxes through colonization and intermarrying it's...well it's less of a common trait than it was....but it's still fairly prevalent in Japanda. I remember reading in some magazine in a waiting room that roughly forty percent of the fox population in Ursa have the slit pupil.
Nick: huh, that's kinda interesting...
Val: Ehh...your mileage may vary...I know mine does...and the half pint fell asleep standing up...
Qali: *Snore-* W-What, I'm awake! *Rubs eyes* S-sorry! I-I'm just really worn out...
Val: It's okay squirt, I got bored too...
Qali: Don't call me SQUIRT! *Huffs* A-And besides, I-I wasn't bored...I j-just...Work's been heavy at the tree farm okay! *Crosses arms defiantly*
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