Morphs – Page 25 – SMR Archive

2010 snow 06-24-11

This 2010 female snow has beautiful head and blotch colors that are still saturating with maturity. I do not think she is a paradox snow, as she has some possible het traits that may explain some of the beautiful (but atypical) head coloration. Her parents are two Anery corns from the pairing by Nancy Wimer of an Anery Motley x Charcoal. Hence, this female is possible het Charcoal and Motley.

2010 Kastanie Snow 071611

This 2010 Female Snow Kastanie is now 23″ long and eating frozen/thawed, large fuzzy mice. Her depth of colors is great for her age, but will deepen more with age. She is the second generation product of pairing a Snow to a Kastanie Bloodred (aka: Rosy Bloodred), so she is also possibly het for Bloodred. All mutations in this snake are inherited recessively; Snow Snow (Amel & Anery), and Kastanie.

Glossary Term Hyperlinks:

aerobic allele amelanistic anerythrism anomaly anterior atypical axanthic Bechtel, Dr. H. Bernard brumation Carl Kauffeld carotene carotenoid Celcius chromatophore chromosome cloaca codominant colubrid compound conjunct contiguous cryptosis disjunct diurnal DNA dominant dorsal dysecdysis ecdysis ectothermic embryo embryogenic empirical epidermis erythrism erythrophore F¹ Fahrenheit genotype gene genotype gravid guarantee hatchling herpetoculture heritable heredity herpetology heterozygous homozygous Hume hybrid hyper hypomelanistic hypo integument intergrade iridiophore lateral leucism line-breeding locus marker melanin melanophore melanosome Mendelian morph mutation neonate nominate novel ontogenetic out-cross pathogen phenotype pinky polygenic progeny punnett recessive respire rheostat selective variation SMR taxonomy thermoregulation thermostat trait ventral ventral keel wild-type xanthin xanthophore yearling

Morph Hyperlinks:

Amber Amel Motley Amel Anery Anery Motley Banded Blizzard Bloodred Blue Motley Butter Butter Motley January 17, 2021January 17, 2021Morphs

2010 Ultramel Anery

INTERSPECIES HYBRID

Ultramel Anery (Ultra anery)

Most Commonly Used Name: Ultramel Anery
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Codominant with Amel
Morph Type: Codominant only with Amel

Note: Ultramel is the heterozygote of the the mutation, Ultra.

See ULTRamel for an explanation of the genetic mechanics of the ULTRA codominant mutation.

INTERSPECIES HYBRID

The founder (discoverer) of the Ultra mutation states that he originally paired a gray rat snake with a corn snake, in the discovery of this mutation. By the time most of us were made aware of the HYBRID origins of Ultra types (originally named Ultra Hypos), we had already bred it into many other corn snake mutations. It was therefore collectively decided that in so much as it would be virtually impossible to track down (and eliminate) each and every snake containing the Ultra gene (surely thousands of individuals in the collections of hundreds of breeders and keepers), the mutation would be treated like other pure corns. In so much as it generally did not alter the corn snake appearance, it was known that even if peoples’ snakes had the Ultra gene mutation, they would either be unaware or could avoid mentioning it. Those of you out there that are boycotting HYBRID corns are advised to avoid acquisition of suspicious-looking corns with the word ULTRA in the morph description. Likewise, purists that admirably endeavor to promote only the genetically purest of corns are urged to question corns that have suspiciously abnormal features that have been historically identified as hybrid markers. Not that all such markers are proof of alien origins. Especially because of the difficulty and expense of formulating a DNA base line for all North American colubrid snake species, and in the absence of expensive DNA testing to identify authenticity of pure corns, without obvious visual and/or genetic distinctions, identification of legitimately pure (or impure) corns is difficult at this time, if not completely impossible.

Other than appearance, the primary (and inherent) value of Ultra Type Corns (Ultras and Ultramels and their color and pattern compounds) is their mode of genetic inheritance. Since they are co-dominant to Amelanistics, pairing any Ultra Type to ANY Amel corn (or Het thereof) will render Ultra types in the F¹ (first) generation of out-crossing to non-Ultra type corns. The results of pairing an Ultra-type with a non-Amel corn (or Het thereof) will render Mendelian results that parallel recessively-inherited mutations; no Ultra-types will result and all progeny will be Het for Ultra when bred to non-Amels.

Important Note:
The advertising images on our web site are representations of the average adult example of each morph. These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site). We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form. Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity. While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph. We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

2010 Fluorescent (Banded)

Banded Fluorescent (no aka)

Most Commonly Used Name: Banded Fluorescent
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive & Selective Variation
Morph Type: Selective variant of single recessive mutation

Eye Color: Red pupil

Genetically speaking, Fluorescent corns are Amel corns that have been selectively bred to promote their target look (red or orange blotches on an orange background, with separating white blotch margins), but we have taken this to a new and better version by selectively breeding toward stretching the markings from blotches to bands. Since the only gene mutation they possess is Amel, the obvious distinction between Banded Fluorescents and the classic Fluorescent corn is the obvious banding.

What to expect:
Neonate Banded Fluorescent corns vary little from their adult counterparts, with the usual exception of being more color saturated at maturity. Expect to see little or no color or white clutter in all color zones, and thicker white blotch borders than typical Amel corns. Colors can vary from one specimen to another, but all have more deeply saturated oranges and less reds than their Reverse Okeetee counterparts. Bands will be obviously longer than their non-banded Fluorescent cousins, while some will extended to the ventral crest (anatomical junction of the lateral and ventral body zones).

2010 Opal Motley

Opal Motley (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Opal Motley
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Triple Mutation Compound – Lavender, Amel, & Motley

Eye Color: Red pupil

Opal corns are the triple recessive compound of the three color mutations, Lavender + Amel = Opal & Motley. Many Opal Motley corns look like ordinary Snow Motley corns, but some are what we call bi-colors, showing an orange or coral or pink ground color between dorsal pattern blotches. There is usually no way to determine which neonates will mature to be bi-colors, but most of ours mature to have such colors. Motley usually has a multiplier impact on the appearance of compound mutants, but in the case of light colored mutants like Opals, Motley’s impact is slight in some individuals and strong in others.

What to expect:

Hatchling Opals are often confused with Snow Motley corns, and even the ones that will mature to be bi-colored will often look exactly like Snow Motleys. Most of the ones that mature to be bi-colored are actually Hypo Opal Motleys, but without knowing that for certain, we don’t charge more for those. If we know they are actually quadruple homozygous individuals (Hypo Opal motleys), we do charge slightly more, but those prices will be published under the compound morph name, Hypo Opal Motleys if/when we have them. Other than making the bi-color-ism more obvious, the extra mutation does not make them overly distinctive from those without the Hypo mutation.

blps092013

FOR SALE

{simpleproduct:id=674}

This 2012 female low-white expression Pied-sided Bloodred Corn Snake shows very little lateral white but is capable of creating babies with more white than she has (if bred to another P/S Bloodred. She is 26″ long and eating large frozen/thawed pinky mice. Her $175.00 price includes U.S. FedEx Overnight service to any of the lower 48 contiguous United States.

2010 Buckskin Okeetee

Buckskin Okeetee (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Buckskin Okeetee
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominant (wild-type) + Selective Variation
Morph Type: Selective Variation of the wild-type, Okeetee

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

The Buckskin Okeetee is another example of the promotion of polygenic traits through selective breeding. By breeding together specimens with an atypically tan ground coloration, through generational selection of pairing only the ones with the most buckskin ground coloration, we are now producing beautiful Okeetees with pale brown or tan ground colors. Of course, this means that no mutations are involved, since instead, changes are made through selective breeding via changes in non-mutant gene interactions.

What to expect:

In both neonates and adults, the ground color should be obviously pale by comparison to typical Okeetees. Note that neonate Okeetees of any persuasion are initially disappointing, as all their colors are drab through much of their youth. Colors will change with maturity, but always get richer and more saturated through maturity. As it is with most relatively new morphs, we don’t yet know what potential variation exists in Buckskin Okeetees, but the obvious target should have clean blotch and ground colors with little or no stippling or speckling that is often seen in the ground color zones of most non-mutant corns, heavy black blotch margins, buckskin-colored ground color zones, and richly saturated red blotches.

2010 Okeetee

Okeetee (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Okeetee
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominant (wild-type) + Selective Variation
Morph Type: Selective Variation of wild-type

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

Arguably the most famous example of a corn snake morph named for its geographic origins, the Okeetee is also considered to be the most beautiful non-mutant corn snake in the species. First popularized by Carl Kauffeld in at least two books describing his field discoveries of this beautiful and robust race of corn snake on or near the Okeetee Hunt Club in South Carolina, Okeetees have since been selectively bred for extremely bright and saturated colors. When we say locality Okeetee, we are referring to animals whose genetic origins can be traced to the Jasper County, South Carolina region. There is nothing magic about the Hunt Club that makes only animals in that area outstanding looking. Corns in other states of the Corn Snake’s range can be just as beautiful, but proportionally speaking, the corns from this region are arguably more beautiful than corns found in most other regions. Okeetees that have been selectively bred for appearance and consequently satisfy a visual hobby standard are sometimes called Okeetee morphs, but more often are called simply Okeetee corns.

Okeetees (in the hobby) are a premier example of the promotion of polygenic traits through selective breeding. By breeding together specimens with desired characteristics, through generational selection of pairing only the ones with superior target features, it doesn’t take long to render stunning examples of the morph – without the aid of gene mutations. Please, do not attempt to hunt for Okeetee corns on private property. The Okeetee Hunt Club in South Carolina expressly forbids trespassing, and it is possible to be legally prosecuted, if caught on their land without express written permission.

What to expect:

Oddly, most of the best Okeetees we produce are the least beautiful – as hatchlings. If you tossed a good Okeetee in a bucket of hatchling common corns, you’d likely not identify it until after several months of maturity. Neonates should show bold black blotch margins, but until one or two sheds, the bright ground colors are not obvious. By that time, blotch colors are beginning to show, and adult Okeetees should have clean (low color freckling) ground and blotch color zones, separated by noticeably broad, black borders. Most of the spectacular examples of this morph are so good, they are sold by other names in the hobby – and are consequently more expensive (i.e. Extreme Okeetees, Buckskin Okeetees, Banded Okeetees). Another notable feature of this morph is its robust size and feeding vigor. Okeetees (which CAN have orange on their bellies – but is relatively rare at this time) have the most spectacular black and white checkered bellies, compared to other wild-type corns.

2010 Extreme Okeetee

EXTREME OKEETEE (no aka)

Most Commonly Used Name: Extreme Okeetee
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominant (wild-type) + Selective Variation
Morph Type: Selective Variation of wild-type

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

What to expect:

Do not expect the hatchling/neonate Extreme Okeetee you get from us to look anything like the adults pictured on our web site. This picture shows an adult female with several of her newly hatched babies (no, she was not present when they hatched in the incubator). This adult looked exactly like the babies shown in this image.

Important Note:
These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site). We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form. Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity. While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph. We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

2010-2 Bloodred

Bloodred (aka: blood)
Note: Expect DIFFUSED and BLOODRED to be incorrectly but synonymously used
Most Commonly used Name: Bloodred
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Selective Variation + Recessive
Morph Type: Single recessive mutation & selective variation

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

A few years ago, due to confusion regarding the heritability of the Bloodred’s base mutation (specifically that the namesake snakes were not red and/or diffused), the base mutation name was changed away from Bloodred – to Diffused. The mechanics of this gene mutation barely diffuse the F¹ homozygotes through maturity (if at all), so do not expect Diffused corns to look like Bloodreds. It is currently believed that Bloodred corns are the product of enhancing the base mutation, Diffused via polygenetic trait modification (selective breeding) to render a red and almost pattern-less (highly diffused) corn snake. That is not the opinion of this author, but in the absence of empirical evidence to the contrary, the best hobby and market interests are not served by published opposition to popular opinion. In other words, I’m not in favor of changing the morph name away from the original Bloodred since the new name Diffused is equally inaccurate. Without polygenetic modification, Diffused corns do not have a diffused appearance.

A brief history on Diffused mutants VS Bloodred mutants:

Initially, the corn snake gene mutation, Diffusion (formerly called Bloodred) was described as being recessively inherited, but many of the F¹ generational heterozygotes exhibited some of the obvious features of the gene mutation homozygotes. It is extremely rare for simple recessive F¹ heterozygotes to exhibit ANY features of their recessively inherited genetic mutation. For example, F¹ heterozygous Amel corn snakes have no markers that demonstrate a hint of their simple recessive mutation, Amel. The paradoxical partial-exhibition of the Diffusion mutation in the heterozygotes resulted in the Diffused mutation being re-described as having codominant inheritance (codom for short), but was tagged with the descriptor, variable. At that time, variable codom seemed an accurate and satisfactory genetic description for the radical color and pattern diversity among members of this mutation, but far too many genetic anomalies persisted. Identification of the inheritance of this mutation is once again considered simple recessive, but the Bloodred corn that most of us identify with toDAY is virtually always the aggregate of traits resulting from the Diffused (new mutation name) gene mutation PLUS polygenetic traits promoted by selectively breeding toward the highest expressions of melanin reduction, diffusion, and red color saturation.

What to expect:

As neonates, Bloodred corns are often heavily patterned (sides are generally faded or lacking typical lateral markings). Some exhibit black (or partially black) scales bordering some of the pattern blotches, and most of them have head patterns that are notably unlike those of typical corns. Most SMR Bloodreds diffuse dramatically through maturity, thereby rendering adults that are nearly devoid of head markings, side markings, (any visible dorsal markings will be very faint). There will be NO belly checkering, but ventral coloration can be all red, all white, or red and white (no black). Many of the early Bloodred corns in the early 1990s were overly inbred and therefore suffered poor fertility (not to mention – the progeny of many of the first generations were stubbornly lizard lovers, refusing to eat pinky mice). Thankfully, through out-crossing in our projects to improve or change colors and patterns, Bloodreds no longer rank high in the realms of sterility or reluctance to eat rodents. In fact, there are some seasons in which Bloodreds are among the best feeders of our corn snake neonates.