"before we understood the hypo gene....before we understood the Lav albino gene"
Who are these people that fully understand either form?, or even just ONE for that matter?..LMAO!
The problem is that anyone can technically categorize both of these terms interchangeably depending on their school of thought as to their definitions. I have always thought(and still do) that "extreme" hypos are indeed more of a drastically reduced form of hypomelanism, and are more accurately termed "extreme hypo" rather than "t-plus albino", lavender, or whatever other name someone wants to put on the label. I certainly don't see them having anything to do with "amelanism"(true albinism) for sure, and they only very loosely fits the category of albino at best in my opinion.
Since both types can be produced in any given clutch as long as both parents are from "extreme" lineage, until some scientist can EVER come up with a bonified reason not to call them hypos, I will certainly continue to do so.
This very same thing applies to these locality morph intergrade yellow x black "greenish" ratsnakes I acquired from a friend of mine that captured the pale 19 inch original male animal in a very isolated location in South Carolina back in 2006, and has since produced a few.
Note the two VERY different phenotypes they display from the very same clutch. The morph and the normal females to breed it with were captured within 150 yards of each other.
My friend coined the term "moonshine" to this particular morph because of the distinct variation the morph animals display, as do the different phases of the moon. Anywhere from EXTREMELY hypo as in this male hatchling, complete with very noticeable pink pupils....
To a more typical form of hypomelanism with black pupils as in this female sibling....He also told me there is an intermediate form with deep ruby-red pupils.
I believe this is VERY similar to the extreme hypo thing. 
~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"
my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com
