Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Isn't a "hypo" floridana really a hyperxanthic?
I don't see reduced melanin but I do see exaggerated xanthin in most "hypos".

The black pattern is reduced but the that black pattern isn't reduced melanin. It's black in a smaller area...not gray/silver

Some hypos I've seen have no dark pigmentation at all except in the eyes...Maybe the layer where the black was, is absent...?

Wouldn't a true hypomelanistic floridana have a normal floridana pattern where the black is grayish as well as the normal yellow bars/pattern?

I think the term "hypo" has been mis used for years for many snakes. And....I am by no means trying to 'change' anything, just wanted to know what everyone's thoughts are on this. I know hypo is the accepted term when describing these floridana and will be forever....
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

I think they are one of many snakes in the hobby that are extremely tough to accurately define. I think that they are basically a mutation that has much less actual melanocytes for melanin to be placed.

They are also a snake that is HIGHLY variable in their red, yellow and orange, so that is another aspect regarding them that is tough to put your finger on. Some do seem to be more hypererythristic or hyperxantic, but some can be pretty light and plainer looking too. With a natural range of anything between a 1 and a 10, it's tough to say. You're right about them not being gray or silver, but some can have strong browns too. Whether this is because the red is mixing in with the black is hard to say, or if it is actually caused by pheomelanin is tough to say too. Eumelanin is brown to black and pheomelanin is orange to rust or rusty brown.

I think they are alot like "tootsie roll pops".............the world may never know..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I agree to an extent. I don't believe the hypo trait in brooksi is a true hypo like a hypo Honduran. However, I think "hypomelanistic" could still be used to describe hypo brooksi, at least for the sake of simplicity. The amount of black/melanin is still reduced from a typical normal, and the snakes are brighter and cleaner looking. I just don't think getting overly complicated and scientific about what we call a morph is going to be productive. Similarly, one can argue about whether a snake is axanthic or anerythristic, but in the end it really doesn't matter which is used.

I think of the hypo trait in brooksi as more of a "super" gene. It exaggerates the phenotype of the snake. Hypos often have thicker bands and more pronounced pattern abnormalities when compared to normals, as well as having increased color and reduced black.

Perhaps a lavender albino, a jelly, or a peanut butter could more be considered a true hypo in the case of brooksi.
-----
www.brooksi.com

like most have stated, there's more going on I'm sure....The "hypo" will have different effects on animals who naturally undergo considerable ontogenetic changes in pattern/intensity (FL kings for example) than those that don't (hondurans etc.)
The pigments are layered I believe and what we see are the results of actions on those pigments and such as well as what happens to them over time....

All that looks black may not be....

:Mark
-----
Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/