SMR Archive

Banded Okeetee (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Banded Okeetee
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominantwild-typeselective variation
Morph Type: Selective variant of wild-type, Okeetee

Banded Okeetees are a classic example of the promotion of polygenic traits through selective breeding.  By breeding together only Okeetees with saddles that extended down on the sides, after a few generations, we are now reliably reproducing the Okeetees with obvious banded markings.  No part of this genetic product owes its’ appearance to any known mutation.

 

 

 

INTERSPECIES  HYBRID !

 

 

Formerly considered an intergrade of what were formerly two corn snake subspecies (Elaphe guttatus guttatusX Elaphe guttatus emoryi), Creamsicles are the final product of crossing the Emory’s Rat (aka: Great Plains Rat Snake) snake with an Amel corn. Since the new taxonomic classification assigns distinct species status to both, (Pantherophis emoryi and Pantherophis guttatus), Creamsicles are now officially considered HYBRIDS. ANY progeny from Creamsicles or any corn snake that have any degree of Emory’s Rat Snake genetics, is considered a HYBRID.  The albinos are called Creamsicles and the non-albinos are called Root Beers.

 

Beyond the HYBRID product of AMEL corn and EMORY’S RAT SNAKE, Creamsicle Okeetees have distinctively saturated orange colors, separated by broad (and shocking) white blotch margins.  Some of the richest color and contrast demonstrated in a Corn Snake Type.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

  

 

 

 

When breeding two Hifh White Reverse Okeetees together, because they are Amel mutants, you are assured of getting 100% amels, but factoring in the variability of the interactions between genes (polygenetics) means that not necessarily all the offspring will be marketable High Whites.  We cull out the ones that do not satisfy our quality standards for High White Reverse Okeetee color and pattern, and those are sold as Reverse Okeetee corns.

 

 

 

 

 

Go to History for more details about the DIFFUSED / BLOODRED base mutation of this compound morph.

This compound morph results from combining the color mutation, Amel with the pattern mutation Diffused and the new Red Factor mutation.  As with most morph compounds that include the Diffused mutation, the Fire mutation‘s color affect is generally more diffused than a typical Amel corn, but nothing compared to Cayenne Fire mutants that possess the additional Red Factor mutation. Except for some of the color and pattern variants of this mutation compound, Fires arguably have much less color contrast than typical Amels and generally redder coloration. Essentially, the difference between a Cayenne Fire and a Fire would be less yellow (therefore orange), rendering a red on red albino corn snake.  Expect dramatically reduced white margins, compared to most non-pattern Amel type mutants.

 

The snake pictured was posed on a U.S. one-dollar-bill for color reference. 

 

What to expect:
Many Fire hatchlings look like little more than some Amel Corns, but the head should have some form of Bloodred head pattern, and the belly will be devoid of classic Amel Corn snake white & off-white checkering.  The belly pattern can have colors – and even pattern – but not organized checkering.  From a short distance, adults appear to be completely red or red/orange, but upon closer examination, most have a faint blotch pattern, and some will have minute traces of white on the scales around the posterior-most dorsal markings.

 

 

 

Go to History for more details about the DIFFUSED / BLOODRED base mutation of this compound morph.

This compound morph results from combining the color mutation, Amel with the pattern mutation Diffused.  As with most morph compounds that include the Diffused mutation, the Fire mutation‘s color affect is generally more diffused than a typical Amel corn, but nothing compared to Cayenne Fire mutants that possess the additional Red Mask mutation. Except for some of the color and pattern variants of this mutation compound, Fires arguably have much less color contrast than typical Amels and generally redder coloration. Expect dramatically reduced white margins, compared to most non-pattern Amel type mutants. 

 

 

What to expect:
Many Fire hatchlings look like little more than regular Amel Corns, but the head should have some form of Bloodred head pattern, and the belly will be devoid of classic Amel Corn snake white & off-white checkering.  The belly pattern can have colors – and even pattern – but not organized checkering.  From a short distance, adults appear to be completely red or red/orange, but upon closer examination, most have a faint blotch pattern, and some will have minute traces of white on the scales around the posterior-most dorsal markings.

 

 

 

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 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:

 

 

Most Commonly Used Name: Strawberry Amel Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Strawberry is dominant to wild-type on the Hypomelanistic-A locus and Amel is recessive to wild-type Morph Type: Mutant compound of Dominant & Recessive Eye Color: RED pupil Strawberry and Amel mutations are the only gene mutations involved in this mutation compound. At this time, we believe that the Strawberry Mutation is dominant to wild-type and resides on the DNA locus HYPO-A. That is, when you breed it to any other corn snake, half the progeny should be Strawberries. How can you tell which half? Good question. According to Charles Pritzel’s Morph Guide (https://cornguide.com/) it is possible to distinguish between the two alleles at the Hypomelanistic A aka: Hypo A locus – both Hypo A and Strawberry – by microscopic inspection of the minute black speckling patterns on some scales. This is essential (in my opinion) because Strawberry Mutants can look identical to some Hypomelanistic Mutants. 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.

Eye Color: Red pupil

 

This compound morph results from combining the color mutation Amel with the pattern mutation Motley. Colors can range from dull orange to red-orange, and the motley pattern may vary from only a few dorsal ground zone circles to many dorsal ground zone circles more than half-way down the back.  Adults are generally more colorful than hatchlings, but relative to the transformation of most corns from hatchling to adult, Amel Motleys change very little throughout maturity.  Amel Motleys should not be confused with Sunglow Motleys – regarding their noticeable lack of white.  One of the genetic functions of Motley is to reduce or eliminate color zones of white in albinos (black in non-albinos) leaving some to deduce that since Amel Motleys usually lack white, they must be Sunglow Motleys.  The primary distinction between the two is the obviously heavier color saturation in Sunglow Motleys vs. the slightly cluttered appearance of Amel Motleys (color zones that have a mixture of many different shades of their base color – and sometimes white stippling).

 

 

What to expect:
Amel Motleys are one of the rare exceptions among corns in so much as their appearance from neonate to adult changes very little. Expect mostly red snakes with ground coloration that is lighter than that of the markings – with notable reduction or lack of white around the markings. 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. BTW, the pattern mutation, Motley virtually always alters color and markings – if only slightly. Patterns are often less distinct and colors are sometimes slighted softened in Motley mutants – compared to non-Motleys. Some people call all Amel Motleys Sunglow Motleys because of the absence of white (single recessive morphs are mostly or completely devoid of white, so most people think the Amel Motleys without white must be Sunglow Motleys), but one of the genetic jobs of Motley is to greatly reduce or eliminate all black in non-albinos and therefore, all white in albinos.