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RE: Greenish Rat Snake Morph Hatchlings

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Posted by: Godfrey at Fri Jun 25 18:47:11 2010   [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Godfrey ]  
   

I have been doing a little research on T positives. I found one interesting paper by B. Bechtel from 1981 that discussed what he proved to be two different types of albinism and one form of hypomelanism in P. obsoleta. Dopa reaction and frozen section testing determined that the two albino animals had different chemical forms of albinism that were non-allelic. One was T positive, the other was T negative. It was determined that the hypo was T positive allelic with the T positive albino form differing in the biochemical defect in melanogenisis. Now that all my hatchlings are out of the eggs I see considerable differences within the clutches, but more so I see differences in a clutch vs. clutch comparison. The four het females I bred were from two different w/c females. They were identified by numbers 3 and 4 respectively. The morphs that hatched from female 4 are collectively more pink in color, and the morphs from female 3 have darker markings collectively. The ones that exhibit the light pink markings also have pinkish pupils but nothing even close to what we normally associate with an albino. The darker ones have black pupils. I realize that it is hard to capture an accurate eye image with a camera (at least with my little point and shoot), but believe me when I say the adult has black pupils. These characteristics make this morph fall in line with what I have researched about T positive albinism. It is possible for individuals to have varying amounts of tyrosinase and therefore varying amounts of melanin. This would explain the variance in melanin displayed in these hatchlings. I might also add that the darkest ones also have black tongues while the lighter ones have pink tongues. I find it interesting that the example Bechtel referred to as "hypomelanistic or xanthic albino" was determined to be a T positive albino. This brings to question whether or not all hypomelanistics are in fact T positive. T positive albinos have limited amounts of melanin due to the presence of tyronisase. By definition hypomelanism and tyronisase positive seem synonymous, reduced levels of but presence of melanin. Just a thought. I will get some better photos after they all shed and post. I hesitate make any definite assumptions without proper testing, but for now all indications point to T positive. Thanks for all the replies folks. This project is literally a dream come true for me.


   

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