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.

Is there any evidence that this phase is an example of phenotypic polymorphism (i.e. like what one sees in Variable Kingsnakes, Eyelash Vipers or G. oxycephalum)?

I am not aware of this discussion on another forum so sorry for stepping in here, but I do want to clarify that polygenetic traits are not necessarily mutually excluse from single gene recessive or dominant traits. Your quote above seems to suggest that but you may have just been summarizing this other thread.

I can't think of a great example parallel to this in snakes, unfortunately. One possible example is Calico Reticulated Pythons that go through a ontonogenic color change but the actual expression of the trait appears to be single gene recessive or dominant. I do not follow Reticulated Python morphs much so maybe this is a known fact now, I'm not sure.

But the general idea is the same. There could be some sort of polygenic trait that includes an ontonogenic color change that is expressed in a single gene manner. Multiple loci that form the trait but the one loci that either switches it on or off.

Just thinking out loud...
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

[ Hide Replies ]

• Female from my special project - cflowers, Mon Sep 22 19:20:21 2008
• RE: Female from my special project - RandyWhittington, Mon Sep 22 21:38:30 2008
• RE: Female from my special project - CFlowers, Mon Sep 22 21:55:04 2008
• RE: Female from my special project - DMong, Tue Sep 23 00:37:01 2008
• RE: Female from my special project - dustyrhoads, Tue Sep 23 10:28:26 2008
• RE: Female from my special project - Chris_Harper2, Wed Sep 24 00:07:06 2008
• clarification... - Chris_Harper2, Wed Sep 24 09:56:59 2008
• sorry for the late reply... - dustyrhoads, Fri Sep 26 16:34:03 2008
• RE: sorry for the late reply... - Chris_Harper2, Tue Sep 30 09:04:36 2008