I don't have photos of the adults, sorry. I'll definitely be documenting this one to see how it turns out, though! I'm trying to do some research on them, and I've found mention of a couple articles by H. Bernard Bechtel and Elizabeth Bechtel that mention a T Hypomelanistic black rat snake, as well as an allelic T amelanistic that was bred with that hypo. I'm trying to get the articles through my university, and have a couple friends trying to find them, as well, but we can't seem to find anything more than a preview.

It does look like an amel to me, too. There isn't even a hint of dark pigment anywhere in it. It's all red and orange. As I said, the amount of pigment is so reduced that there isn't even a HINT of a belly pattern, either. I can't say that I've ever seen a black rat without SOME hint of belly pattern.

I'll see if I can't get a hold of some pictures of the parents.

Thanks for the input!

[ Hide Replies ]

• unknown black rat morph - Redmoon, Fri Feb 22 07:25:30 2008
• oops. . . - Redmoon, Fri Feb 22 07:26:23 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - DMong, Fri Feb 22 12:30:05 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - Redmoon, Fri Feb 22 13:11:06 2008
• I look forward to the pics!....n/p - DMong, Fri Feb 22 14:14:59 2008
• "rusty" maybe! - ameratsnake, Sat Feb 23 04:42:31 2008
• a slim chance . . . - Redmoon, Sat Feb 23 11:29:53 2008
• also - - Redmoon, Sat Feb 23 13:32:42 2008
• RE: also - - draybar, Sat Feb 23 14:47:33 2008
• the brighter - Redmoon, Sat Feb 23 20:55:04 2008
• RE: the brighter - draybar, Sun Feb 24 10:44:26 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - hermanbronsgeest, Sat Feb 23 14:02:51 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - DMong, Sat Feb 23 14:34:02 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - Dwight Good, Sat Feb 23 14:51:37 2008
• I tend to agree.... - DMong, Sat Feb 23 17:48:41 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - Redmoon, Sat Feb 23 20:58:16 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - hermanbronsgeest, Sun Feb 24 03:47:40 2008
• RE: unknown black rat morph - dre, Mon Feb 25 18:50:47 2008
• sounds about right - ameratsnake, Mon Feb 25 20:01:30 2008
• wow. . . - Redmoon, Mon Feb 25 20:45:39 2008