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Striped Tessera-13

Striped Tessera (no aka)

Most Commonly Used Name: Striped Tessera
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominant
Morph Type: Both Dominant & Recessive Gene Mutations

Eye Color: Black pupil with ground zone-colored iris

FIRST, what makes Tesseras so expensive? Other than appearance, the primary (and inherent) value of Tessera-type Corns is their mode of inheritance. Since they are dominant to wild type, pairing any Tessera Type that is a Visual Het to ANY corn (other than a Tessera-type) will render 50% Tessera mutants in the F¹ (first) out-crossed generation. The results of pairing an Tessera homozygote with ANY corn snake (other than a Tessera-type) will render 100% Tessera mutants.

Striped Tesseras are at least homozygotes of the recessively-inherited STRIPE mutation and the dominantly-inherited TESSERA mutation. At this time, there appears to be no direct mutational relationship between those two mutations (when in genetic union), except for the seemingly collateral features that distinguish virtually all Striped Tesseras from simple Striped mutants. The features that are demonstrated in most Striped Tesseras that distinguish them from simple Striped corn mutants are:

Contiguity of pattern. Striped Tesseras have remarkably continuous striping and if it does break – unlike simple mutant Striped corns – it resumes in the same form – without fading to broken striping and eventually no striped pattern at all, as we see in ALL simple mutant Striped corns.

Stripe that extends to the tail and beyond. I have never seen a simple mutant Striped corn that had a stripe that continued to the tail tip. I’ve seen nearly full striping in some lines of Striped Motleys, but never in Striped mutants. When one corn possesses both the STRIPE and the TESSERA mutations, most of these corns have striping that continues to the tip of the tail, regardless of how many stripe breaks there are between the neck and tail tip. When the striped pattern of Striped corn mutants begins to break up and/or fade, it does not resume in recognizable form. My reference to “tail pattern” is the dorsal location that is the polar opposite of the cloaca (polar as opposing points on the same vertical plane).

Variable stripe width. It is not common, but some of the Striped Tesseras we’ve produced have varying stripe width, which is something seldom observed on simple Striped mutants. Generally speaking, the striping of Striped Tesseras widens as it extends tail-ward. Some have intermittent and abrupt changes of width from the neck to the tail, but except for gradual widening of stripe, some have remarkably clean stripes. The question that can’t help but be asked is, “In STRIPED TESSERAS, is the striped pattern the result of the Striped mutation, the striped version of the Motley mutation; Striped Motley. OR the striped version of the Tessera mutation?” I don’t know the answer at this time.

Note the comparison of a Striped Amel (Het Caramel) and a Striped Tessera in this image.

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What to expect:

Striped Tesseras are still fairly rare. So far, the only feature that is atypical – compared to typical corn snake mutations – is that many of the non-mutant siblings of Tessera types seem to have enhanced pattern and color features. So far, I don’t recognize any traditional markers that are unique to hybrid colubrids, since the collateral sibling features to which I refer are – so far – in the realm of improving existing corn snake features (i.e. some non-Tesseras have better, brighter, cleaner, and/or more consistent colors and markings). I’m intrigued by the collateral nature of some of the non-Tessera siblings co-incidentally having improved characteristics without changing standard features of the species (i.e. body shape, belly checkering, head pattern, shape and number of markings).

As hatchlings, Striped Tesseras generally look like Striped corns, except for the precision of striping and retention of black pigment seen in most Striped Tesseras . Other than the obviously better quality of striping in Striped Tesseras, the primary difference between the closest corn snake phenotype (Striped Motley) and Striped Tesseras is that of the dominant genetic inheritance of the Tessera. Naturally, the Stripe and Motley mutations (which are alleles of the Motley locus) are inherited in recessive fashion. Just like all corns, Striped Tesseras gain improved color saturation as they mature.

History of the Tessera Mutation:

In 2007, Graham Criglow asked KJ Lodrigue to order a 1.2 trio of Striped Motleys that were advertised on one of the popular Online Classified sites – since Graham’s job prevented him from personally receiving them at that time. When they arrived, KJ discovered that they constituted a 2.1 reverse trio (two males and one female) instead of the advertised 1.2 trio (one male and two females). KJ and Kasi recommended that Graham gift the extra male to me, and that’s what Graham did. Profound thanks to Graham, KJ, and Kasi for that gracious and fortuitous gift. In 2008, both the Lodrigues and I independently bred our males (Graham’s and mine) to novel (unrelated) corns. I produced about 24 TESSERAS (so named by the Lodrigues for the tessellated lateral markings) from over 50 fertile eggs, but since the Lodrigues were in the middle of a career move to another State, they were less fortunate, producing just four non-mutant Okeetee-looking corns. My Tesseras were produced by the pairing of the male Tessera to three novel female corns (two F¹ Locality Okeetees from Chip Bridges Rhett Butler Line and one Okeetee-ish female, Het for Stripe and Amel). Imagine my surprise in seeing what we thought were nearly flawless Striped Motleys from three different females, only one of which was Het for a recessive pattern mutation? After the first brood of 50% Tesseras hatched from the female that was het for Stripe and Amel, except for the perfection of pattern, I was not thinking new dominant mutation, but when both wild-type Okeetees produced the same results, it was obvious that a new mutation was discovered.

Upon receiving the reverse trio from the seller, we all commented on the mutual peculiarity of the phenotypes. Most appeared to be the most perfectly Striped Motleys ever seen – in so much as their dorsal stripes were nearly contiguous from neck to tail tip (something never before seen in any corn snake pattern mutant) – but that was hardly possible if the admission of the breeder were true – that they were products of pairing a Striped corn with an Okeetee corn. How could these descendants of a Striped corn bred to an Okeetee be Motley types, instead of Striped? It is still unclear if those 2.1 Tesseras were F¹s (first familial generation) or F²s (the originator of this line is now out of the hobby and difficult to reach – for clarification). If these three Tesseras are F¹s, my deduction is that the striped corn he used in the original pairing was actually Striped AND Tessera. Even if those three were F²s, the likelihood of the mutant patriarch being a Striped Tessera is strong.

In the 100+ Tessera mutants produced by me as of Fall, 2010, I’m seeing the following features:

The most obvious advantage of having Tesseras in your breeding inventory (aside from their inherent beauty) is that because the mutation is dominantly inherited, 50% of every brood of corns from them will be Tessera mutants. With most other corn snake mutations, one must raise all the Het F¹ progeny, and won’t receive any mutants until F² reproduction (a task that can take four to six years). In the course of adding Tessera to the myriad current patterns and colors of corns, an entirely new market is now in the making.

Predominantly contiguous dorsal striping is the most unique feature of most Tesseras. Even when the stripe is broken, it resumes immediately thereafter (unlike Striped and Motley mutants whose dorsal striping never resumes with any degree of renewal). Roughly 1/3 of all that have been produced so far have no stripe breaks. Another 1/3 or so have two to four stripe breaks, and the other 1/3 can have five to 20+ stripe breaks, but those breaks are merely interruptions of the stripe. Not unlike very good Striped Motleys, many Tesseras have an interruption of stripe at the girdle (anatomical location – polar to the cloaca), but unlike Striped and Motley mutants, the dorsal stripe almost always continues to the tail tip. Thus far, fully striped Tesseras have been produced from parents with some-to-many dorsal stripe breaks. Hence, broken-striped Tesseras can produce fully striped striped Tesseras, even though their stripe is broken. Incidentally, none of the original 2.1 original Tesseras in this line have complete dorsal striping, but many of their progeny and grand progeny do.

More than 2/3 of the Tesseras produced by me so far have atypically large amounts of black pigment in their non-ventral pattern — a feature roughly 1% of all Striped and Motley mutants have demonstrated to date. Less than 1/4 of all Tesseras produced by me have little to no black in their markings, and these are mostly Striped Tesseras.

The belly patterns of most Tesseras that are not also homozygous for other pattern mutations (i.e. Stripe) are all over the charts, but so far, all the bellies on Striped Tesseras have had no pattern at all. Apparently, the STRIPE mutation trumps what normally occurs on the bellies of Tessera mutants, thereby not allowing belly pattern.

Having grafted another entire branch on the already sprawling corn snake family tree, we think the Tessera mutation will offer genetic flexibility never before possible; mainly in the realm of making Stripe and Motley types without losing the black (white in albinos). Imagine all the current colors of corns infused with the Tessera, Striped Tessera, and Motley Tessera patterns?

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.

Fluorescent BLANK

Fluorescent (no aka)

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

Eye Color: RED pupil

A selective variant of the Amelanistic corn snake, similar to the famous Reverse Okeetee morph. Fluorescent corns have much cleaner color zones, more deeply-saturated colors and generally brighter white blotch margins. Adults must be seen to be fully appreciated.

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 toward cleaner color zones (less color interruptions and stippling). Since the only gene mutation they possess is Amel, the obvious distinction between Reverse Okeetees and Fluorescents is the obvious cleaner color zones.

What to expect:
Neonate Fluorescent corns vary little from neonate Reverse Okeetees, but even at that age/size, the colors are cleaner and more saturated. 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.

Motley-13

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Motley (no aka)

Most Commonly Used Name: Motley
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Single Recessive Mutation

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

The first description of this corn snake pattern mutation was published by the late Dr. H. Bernard Bechtel in the 1980s. His breeding trials demonstrated the heritability of this mutation to be simple recessive. The distinguishing feature of those is belly checkering. Good Motleys have an orderly and contiguous pattern of spots down the dorsum that represent spaces in what appears to be a continuous, wide stripe of color running from the neck tail-ward. The size, shape, location, organization, and number of circular pattern interruptions on the back define the grade of individuals, but until recently, the one pattern distinction we could rely upon was that of having no checkers on their belly. Lately, we’re seeing Motleys with some black checkering, but it’s random and sparse. I suspect that one DAY we’ll see Motleys with quite a bit of belly checkering. In fact, certain genetic compounds of Motley have somewhat reliable belly markings (i.e. Sunglow Motley and Lavender Motley).

What to expect:

Thankfully, there is little change (if any) in the markings from hatchling to adult, but one characteristic impossible not to notice is that of diffusion of pattern and color throughout maturity. This essentially does change the pattern appearance, and it certainly does have interesting impacts on color compounds of Motley. Not unlike the “Diffused” mutation (aka: Bloodred) that diffuses color and pattern, Motleys virtually always enhance any other color or pattern mutation with which they have genetic union. Do not expect contiguous and orderly dorsal patterning, as Motleys with the best patterns are still in a minority in this morph. BTW, they are rare, but some non-mutant corns have dorsal pattern that is very similar to Motleys, but still a dependable distinguishing feature is the belly. If a Motley-looking corn has a busily checkered belly, it should not be a Motley mutant.

Hurricane Anery Motley-14

Hurricane Anery Motley (no aka)

Most Commonly Used Name: Hurricane Anery Motley
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive Plus polygenetic pattern trait, Hurricane
Morph Type: Compound (Anery & Motley plus Hurricane pattern variation)

Eye Color: Black pupil

This compound morph results from combining the color mutation Anery with the pattern mutation Motley but also with a twist. Through selective-breeding, the hurricane pattern trait changes an otherwise ordinary Anery Motley into a Motley with noticeable and thick margins around the dorsal circles of the Motley pattern. Colors can range from dull gray to silver with black to jet black markings. The nearly perfect Motley circles on the back can run down the back from the neck to the half-way point, but in rare specimens they run nearly to the tail. The name “Hurricane” tags this Motley variant because the concentric borders of the dorsal circles of the pattern (where ground color insets the high degree of darker pattern) resemble the meteorological sign for hurricane storms. The hurricane markings are not the result of a gene mutation, but from selective breeding that promotes the concentric and thick borders of the dorsal circles between pattern zones. Adults are generally more colorful than hatchlings, but relative to the transformation of most corns from hatchling to adult, any Anery Motley will change very little throughout maturity. One of the genetic functions of Motley is to reduce or eliminate melanin pattern zones of black, making classic Anery Motleys show NO black circle boundaries, but Hurricane pattern variants seem to ignore this genetic trait of the classic Motley.

hurricane112e-300

This image demonstrates the distinctino between a classic Anery Motley and a Hurricane Anery Motley variant. In some specimens, it appears as though all the pattern zones of an Anery Motley (darkest color) are reduced to a concentric black border of the circles of ground color on the dorsum.

What to expect:

Anery Motleys (classic or Hurricane variants) are one of the rare exceptions among corns in so much as their appearance from neonate to adult changes very little. Expect mostly gray snakes with dark pattern margins that change very little in color intensity from hatchling to adult. Some have only a few of the classic Motley dorsal circles (often resembling a chain configuration) while some sport a long and contiguous “chain” pattern nearly all the way to the tail. Never expect to see such dorsal circles ON the tail itself. Patterns are often less distinct and colors are sometimes slighted softened in Motley mutants – compared to non-Motleys.

Coral Snow 05-30-14

Show & $ell (thanks, Amber)

{product id=721}

This 2013 male Coral Snow Corn is now 27″ long, eating frozen/thawed large fuzzy mice. His $225.00 price includes

Sunkissed 05-28-14

Show & $ell

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This 2013 male Sunkissed Corn Snake is a sibling of Sunkissed Kastanies, therefore, possibly het for Caramel and/or Kastanie. He is now 27″ long, eating frozen/thawed small hopper mice. His $165.00 price includes

Extreme Okeetee14

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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

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. 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 the desired 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 arrested, if caught on their land without express written permission.

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 out-number those that have inferior color and pattern. 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.

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.

Do not expect any hatchling/neonate Okeetee to look anything like the adults. This picture shows an adult female Extreme Okeetee 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 when she was their size.

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.

Hurricane Anery Motley-13

NOW READY FOR SHIPPING

Hurricane Anery Motley (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Hurricane Anery Motley
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive Plus polygenetic pattern trait, Hurricane
Morph Type: Compound (Anery & Motley plus Hurricane pattern variation)

Eye Color: Black pupil

hurricane112e-300

What to expect:

Red Mask Amel 0327b

Show & _$ell

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This beautiful 2010 Red Mask Amel is the result of Dan Stokkers breeding a Coral Snow to a Blizzard. So she is het for charcoal, as evidenced by her producing Coral Blizzards for me last year. She is six weeks out of brumation and should be receptive to a male very soon (if not now). If I didn’t have two or her sisters here, I’d keep her. Her $295.00 price includes

Same female in different light and pose.

P/S Bloodred 04-03-14c

FOR SALE:

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28″ female low-white Pied-sided Bloodred corn snake. Her $140.00 price includes She is currently eating frozen/thawed fuzzy mice.