Congrats, Chris. First, let me say that whatever they are, I want some! A Black Gap color phase would be sweet!

Second, we were recently discussing this on another forum and Aaron shared this photo of the yearling that's turning Gray with age. As I shared with Aaron, to ontogenetically "turn gray" is an earmark of a polygenic Gray phase. So, I have considerable doubt that these are anything but a polygenic Gray phase suboc, which have been found at the Gap before. In other words, I highly doubt this is a simple recessive mode of inheritance of a single allele.

Also, to my knowledge, no other snake species has an axanthic or anerythristic morph that are born normal and turn into that with age. Some people might say Blue Chondros, but blue chondros aren't completely Axanthic, that's a polygenic morph -- in other words, many genes additively playing on one physical trait.

Just looking at the picture that Aaron shared of the yearling (top) compared with a true Axanthic of the same age (bottom), you can easily see the difference between Gray and Silver.




Anyway, not trying to stir anything up, but just giving my opinion as to what I think is going on with this morph. I could be wrong, but I think I'm guessing right.

Regards,

Dusty Rhoads
Suboc.com

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