Frank,

Here is the confusion. The Evans hypos are not really hypos. They are a type of amelanistic. It differs from the classic or T- "albino". The Evans "hypo" does not show any level of melanin but it does express a copper containing enzyme called tyrosinase. That is why the Evans hypos have copper tones to them. And no, Evans hypos do not have black bellies.



Will,

I do agree that by definition, an animal expressing less than normal amounts of melanin can technically be called a hypomelanistic. However, this term is usually reserved for genetic mutations that take black away and replace it with grey, brown or light black when it comes to describing the trait in reptiles. Now, with hognose snakes, including kennerlyi, it is normal for them to have very little black to no black on the dorsal. The tell tale signs of it truly being a hypomelanistic would be if the belly is not black.

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]