THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY OF A GENETIC ASSIMILATION OF THE FLEEING DIRECTION IN TALITRUS-SALTATOR

Reports on the genetic assimilation of features involving behaviour are very scarce, while they are more common in the fields of morphology and physiology. This paper investigates the theoretical possibility of a genetic assimilation of the 'fleeing direction' in the sandhopper (Talitrus saltator), consistent with Bateson's model of genetic assimilation. This is done from the two simple genetic determinations suggested by L. Pardi and F. Scapini to explain the variability of the feature between populations. The conditions for this genetic assimilation to occur are examined and particular attention is paid to the differences between the properties of the two determinations. Finally, the possible importance of genetic assimilation in the field of animal orientation is discussed.