I have several photos of peanuts I'll be using for the article, I'll upload them momentarily.
Most are peanut-next-to-normal-kit photos, too which I think helps.
<br /><br />__________ Sat Jul 20, 2013 4:48 pm __________<br /><br />OK, here goes...
Peanut kit next to a normal littermate:
This is a deceased peanut and a deceased runt. Both littermates, died on the same night. The runt is small but it's body proportions and head shape are normal. Notice the peanut's domed, deformed head...underdeveloped hind legs...and absurdly tiny ears. Some people say that a runt is a peanut...runts are just undersized normal kits. A true peanut has two copies of the dwarf gene:
Same pair, with a two-dollar coin for size comparison:
Most peanuts die shortly after being born (I've had two litters of MR and four peanuts between them and they've all passed before the fourth day) but sometimes you get a rare peanut who survives til weaning. These peanuts usually die when weaned, so some people I have talked to believe that they cannot process normal food. This blue peanut belongs to S. Sosa, photos used with permission:
Here's that same blue peanut, next to it's littermate. Same color, same litter, one is a normal and one a peanut. See how different their head shape and ears are...also the peanut is freaking tiny, LOL:
