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Is there a consensus yet about the bairds lighter morph? Is it hypo or albino? I have seen arguments both ways and I'm still confused. I have a female and a het male, who I've just been calling hypo since that's what they were called when I bought them. I believe they were orginally from Mike Falcon.

Here's my girl, Isabeau

Sarah

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FireDrake Exotics
www.FireAndLilac.com

Interesting question...

We do know one thing...they're definitely not a Tyrosinase-negative albino, as they would have bright red eyes and none of that light caramel brown color would show up in the neck region.

However, they're very reminiscent of the "caramel albinos" (also called Tyrosinase-positive albinos) that you see in a few boid species. That has led some people to call them T-positive albinos, and yet, that obvious reduction of melanin has led some others to simply refer to them as hypos.

It would be good to compare their traits with hypos of other closely related species, such as the several loci for hypomelanism in Corns and hypo Everglades Rats.

In good lighting, my T-pos. Baird's have dark red eyes. "Red eyes", as a trait, usually lends itself to albinism more than just hypomelanism, but that's somewhat of a broad generalization, as there are probably examples of hypos (like in Corns and Glades rats) that also have red eyes. (Any other thoughts here from any keepers of Corns and Glades?)

It would be good to ask some of the boa and ball python people what the difference is, on a molecular-level, between hypo boas and caramel albino boas, for example. On a gene function (or lack-of-function) level, there may actually not be too much difference, but I don't know. The two traits are obviously genetically distinct, but it may be that, at a phenotypic and structural level, there's just a difference in the timing of the molecular pathway that leads to a different locus for the same phenotypic mutation. It just seems that, to me, hypo and caramel, are different terms for different-looking but roughly the same type of mutation (i.e. a partial -- but not complete -- loss of melanin production).

I'd like to hear what others think on this question too.

DR
Suboc.com

Hmmm, interesting about the eyes, I had never really taken any notice of them other than they look normal... definatley not the classic albino red/pink eyes.

I just compared my female "hypo" to some other snakes... her pupil is definately more ruby compared to my hwy 277 bairds.

Compared to my lavender corn snake male, his pupils are way MORE ruby in color.

When compared to my hypo bloodred corn snake their pupils were the most similar, if not exact. And for fun I pulled out a normal corn and could definately see the difference still (maybe a good way to ID hypos in corns too?)

Unfortunately I dont have any balls or boas of any use in comparison.

I wonder if it's worth it to try and breed my het male to a hypo corn snake?

thanks!

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FireDrake Exotics
www.FireAndLilac.com

>>Is there a consensus yet about the bairds lighter morph? Is it hypo or albino? I have seen arguments both ways and I'm still confused. I have a female and a het male, who I've just been calling hypo since that's what they were called when I bought them. I believe they were orginally from Mike Falcon.
>>
>>Here's my girl, Isabeau
>>
>>Sarah
>>
>>
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to me the eyes say hypo
BUT there may be things in Bairdis that are different.
I don't know.
Amelanism in corns and other rats snakes such as the obsoletas removes melanin (black) and results in red eyes. Hypomelanism is a reduction in black but does not neccessarily cause red eyes, so to me it just seems hypo.
strictly opinon, I only work with "normal" bairdis.
At least at this time.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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I'd say Hypo. Dark eyes, so definitely NOT an albino..

Matthew

I would say T Albino since the eyes are a dark Rudy red, if you close in good lighting.

Jason

T Albino

T Plus albino

Well then, wouldnt that mean my hypo corn snakes are T plus because their pupils were exactly like my "hypos" pupils....
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FireDrake Exotics
www.FireAndLilac.com

I am just giving my opinion. I could be totally wrong. A Hypo gene in a corn snake and a hypo in bairds are totally different. Just like hypo Coastal Milk and a Hypo Honduran milk. They most likely are not combatable and they influnce colors in different ways.

Jason

I know, I'm trying to get a conversation going here, but there just didnt seem to be that much interest I guess.
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FireDrake Exotics
www.FireAndLilac.com