Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new to all this color genetics but I was under the impression that amelanistic ment lacking the black coloration and albino ment lacking all color. Why do we refer to an amel corn as albino? Did I miss something in my interpetation? Can anyone take a minute to straighten a rookie out? Thanks.

Melanin pigment produces the black color. Amelanistic means having no melanin pigment and therefore no black coloration.

Definition of albino = an organism exhibiting deficient pigmentation; especially : a human being who is congenitally deficient in pigment and usually has a milky or translucent skin, white or colorless hair, and eyes with pink or blue iris and deep-red pupil —compare MELANO —al·bin·ic /-'bin-ik/ adjective

Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Definition of deficient =
1. Lacking an essential quality or element.
2. Inadequate in amount or degree; insufficient.

Source: The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary

Albino has a broader meaning than amelanistic. It was originally used to describe African black people with scattered areas of pinkish-white skin. It could be used to describe any condition from less than normal pigmentation to no pigmentation. It is even used for plants without chlorophyll.

But the short answer for why we call them amelanistic corn snakes is because Bern Bechtel, who worked out the genetics, NAMED the mutant gene and the appearance it caused "amelanistic".

On the other hand, we use "albino" for boa constrictors and ball pythons because the first people who bred them NAMED the mutant gene and the appearance it caused "albino".

In the same way, a human with brown skin might have "Green" written on his birth certificate. Brown might be a better DESCRIPTION, but his NAME is Green.

Hope this helps.

Paul Hollander