Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK! I think I can prove that the hypo/snow trait is not just a dominant pigment cell or selectively bred inherited trait.

If it was an inherited trait and was subject to dominant pigment cells I think we would all agree that the pigment cells would have to be white? Pigment cells if I'm not mistaken are only red, orange and yellow.

Irridiphores control the white base color in beardies wich is proven by the removal of white in the hyp-oirrisistic or translucent beardies. A hyper irristic beardie would be a beardie that had a pearlescent look to the white background due to the irridiphore disfunction. That alone wipes out the idea that there is an inherited or dominant cell in play with this mutation. It would have to have something to do with the white coloring of the dragon and it isn't possible as there is no white pigment only irridiphores using platelet allignment to reflect the white base color.

Not to mention the anomolies associated with the hypo/snow gene are coincidal with melanophore disfunction. whether it's a lack of melanophores or simnply disfunctioning melanophores I don't know but the lack of black coupled with the visible anomolies produced in this trait could be nothing else ( in my opinion )from the information I've gathered.

Anyone know anything that can ad to or disprove what I've said? Would love to hear some feedback on this.

Where are you Paul Morlock?

Later gang,
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Robert Wood
Tulsa,OK

I can't claim to know nearly as much, though I think it's rather fascinating.. I don't have any comments aimed directly to your post but I do have a few questions.

Is there an actual white pigment in skin cells?
Last I recalled it was the actual lack of pigment that produced the white appearance. (I'm pretty sure I'm thinking of albino here, and any comment on this would be appreciated)
My knowledge of white morphs drops off as soon as you go past Albinos, Leucistics are still near unknown to me other than obvious details.

If would prefer to keep this topic directed to this post I'd appreciate it extremely if you Emailed it to me, I still have a few questions if you're willing to help a teen understand some things.

Thanks in advance
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2.4.1 Leos
1.1.13(eggs) Beardie
2.0 Burm
0.1 Common Boa
0.0.1 Sand Fish
0.2 Desert Tortoise hatchlings
Wish for: Candoia Sp, Frilled D, BTS

I really do not share that opinion that the dominant color has to be white when there is a dominant color.
There are a lot of dragons where color has been bred into over the years, and where color is intensified or have more xanthophores.
Why can't it be that there are dragons wich have just a less amound of melanophores due to selective breeding over the years?

Your saying that every dragon with lessened black is a hypo.
But is "lessened black" the right definition of hypomelanism?
The fenotype of the hypo that has the defect en the hypo just has a less amound of melanophores are the same but the genotype would be very diferent, that why i think it's a bit strange putting them together under same name (hypo).
What do wo call hypomelanistic, genotype or fenotype?
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I would say that is something I will be looking into this weekend if I find the time.

I still have to stick with the facts that point to hypomelanism though. I suppose that anything is possible but it just seems that with the variance in anomolies produced by the hypo/ snow trait that it has to be hypomelanism. If it was selective breeding and only a lessened amount of melanophores the effect would be more cut and dry it seems. However, you only see certain anomolies in select animals with some showing more than one anomoly. Wouldn't that suggest to you disfunctional melanophores? Or could it also suggest different levels of a lesser amount of melanophores from selective breeding?

Thanks for the feedback,

Robert Wood