SMR Archive – Page 199 – Posts from old SMR Website

Phantom Ralph

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INTRODUCING . . . . . . the R Corn Snake

2010-Vanishing Stripe

Vanishing Stripe (aka: Vanishing Pattern Stripe)
Most Commonly Used Name: Vanishing Stripe
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive + Selective Variation?

Type: Single Mutation + Selective Variant

Vanishing Striped corns are selective variants of the Striped mutation. At least, that’s what we know toDAY. Breeding trials by some corn keepers are currently under way to determine if what causes low stripe volume and/or vanishing pattern is a polygenic trait or a mutation. At this time, it appears that the cause of low stripe volume and/or vanishing pattern is the work of polygenetics.

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.

What to expect:

Some Vanishing Striped corns start with some or alot of dorsal striping, while others have very little or no stripe when they hatch (these are rare toDAY). Regardless, the name Vanishing Striped Corn applies to Striped corns that hatch without striping AND those that hatch with striping but lose it with muturity. Most of our’s have some striping and lose it fairly rapidly (within the first year), resulting in adults that are a pale version of their color mutation and only the area between two different colored ground color zone indicates that a stripe was originally there. Most Vanishing Striped corns have “tweener” markings (i.e. ovals, rectangles, bowties) on the dorsum that are located in pattern zones that would be between wild-type pattern blotches. They almost completely fade with maturity, but often, in strong light, they can still be seen in some adults.

General Note:
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 identical to each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in no two specimens being exactly the same. 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 replace your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

Diffused Creamsicle

INTERSPECIES HYBRID !

Diffused Creamsicle (aka: Bloodred Creamsicle, Bloodsicles)

Most Commonly Used Name: Diffused Creamsicle

Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive corn snake Amel + Emory’s Rat Snake + recessive Diffused

Morph Type: Single recessive HYBRID Mutation + recessive Diffused

Eye Color: Red pupil

The HYBRID element of this morph compound was formerly considered an intergrade of what used to be two corn snake subspecies (Elaphe guttatus guttatus X Elaphe guttatus emoryi), Creamsicles are the final product of crossing an Emory’s Rat (aka: Great Plains Rat Snake) with an Amel corn. Since the new taxonomic classification assigns distinct species to each (Pantherophis emoryi and Pantherophis guttatus), in herpetocultural vernacular, Creamsicles are now officially considered hybrids. ANY progeny from Creamsicles or any corn snake that has any degree of Emory’s Rat Snake in it, is considered a HYBRID. The albinos are called Creamsicles and the non-albinos are often called Rootbeers.

Combination of the HYBRID Creamsicle and the Diffused mutation (see Diffused VS Bloodred history) renders this beautifully orange corn snake morph.

What to expect:

Hatchling Creamsicles are orange hybrid versions of Amel corns, so they can have any pattern you see in corn snakes. I’ve seen Creamsicles that were yellow on yellow, some that were orange on orange, and some that were red on orange – demonstrating the polygenic variability seen in all animals. Not unlike some hybrid snakes that can be selectively bred to eventually hide all visual traces of their alien ancestor, some Creamsicles are virtually identical to Amel corns. Creamsicles (and Root Beers) usually have what we call Hybrid Vigor (robust size and propensities for hardy appetites and rapid growth) from being out-crossed to unrelated snakes. We all hope that breeders will always reveal the genetic background of all their snakes, but I know people that have purchased obvious Creamsicles in pet stores and reptile expos, but were never advised of their hybrid origins.

Glossary Term Hyperlinks:

Striped Motley

Striped Motley (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Striped Motley
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive

Morph Type: Single Recessive

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

The Striped Motley overall pattern differs from the pattern scheme of most Motley mutants by having some markings that connect in striped fashion, but there is often less than three connected markings that render a striped look. These

What to expect:

Unlike most corn snake neonates, expect young Striped Motleys to be essentially miniature versions of their adult forms. Colors will saturate, and those that show trace amouts of black in their markings will lose virtually all black.

This image visually demonstrates the distinction between a Striped Amel and a Striped Amel Motley. Note the width of the dorsal stripe zone.

Diffused

Diffused (aka: bloodred – see details below)
Note: Expect DIFFUSED and BLOODRED to be used synonymously
Most Commonly mis-used Name: Bloodred See details below
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Single Recessive Mutation

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

If you expected to see beautifully diffused corns with saturated red/rust/mahogany colors, click here ^_____> Bloodred Corn Snake to see the enhanced version of this color mutation.

A few years ago, due to confusion regarding the heritability of the Bloodred’s base mutation (namely 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 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 incorrect. Without polygenetic modification, Diffused corns are not diffused.

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, Diffused corns are often heavily patterned, most of them exhibiting black (or partially black) scales bordering some of the pattern blotches, and most of them have some degree of black belly checkering (something I have NEVER seen on good Bloodreds). Head patterns are highly variable, but exactly like wild-type corns.

Some Diffused corns may exhibit slight diffusion throughout maturation, but unlike their prestigious BLOODRED cousins, every Diffused adult I’ve seen displayed prominent markings (head, body, and belly). Many of the early Diffused corns over ten years ago 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, Diffused and Bloodred corns no longer rank high in either of those categories; low ferility or reluctance to eat rodents. In fact, there are some seasons in which Diffused and Bloodred corns are among the best feeding of our corn snake neonates.

Sunglow Motley

Sunglow Motley (aka: Sun Motley)

Most Commonly Used Name: Sunglow Motley
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive + Selective Variant

Morph Type: Selective Variant of Recessive Compound (Amel + Motley)

Eye Color: Red pupil

Many generations were spent in refining the beauty of the Sunglow Motley. Their genetic mutation is officially Amel Motley, but they have been selectively bred toward the goal of deeply saturated red coloration and classically orderly Motley pattern. For years, we were helpless to explain why the colors in this line were so deeply saturated and why they were redder than other genetic lines. In 2009, one of our friends that wondered the same and conducted breeding trials to determine what caused the intense colors. She concludes that SMR Sunglow Motleys possess the added mutation of what is sometimes referred to as Red Mask or Red Factor. It is allegedly inherited in dominant fashion (it is a recently discovered mutation and is still poorly understood). Once I validate her genetic inheritance findings, the price of Sunglow Motleys will increase, since they will undoubtedly become powerful genetic tools in deepening and saturating reds in other corn snake morphs.

What to expect:
Sunglow Motley are one of a handful of corn snake morphs that change their appearance very little from hatchling to adult. Expect neonate Sunglow Motleys to be intensely colored, and while the color transition is fractionally that of other mutations, some saturation of color will occur through maturation.

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.

Amber

Amber (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Amber
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Mutation Compound (Caramel + Hypo)

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris (some can be so hypomelanistic, their pupils can be gray to dark red).

This compound recessive morph results from combining the two recessive color mutations, Caramel and Hypo. Just as one would expect, the product of the two is a pleasantly yellow corn snake. Many mature to be virtually the same yellow as Butter corns, but with black pupils, instead of the pink pupils of the their Amel counterpart, the Butter corn.

What to expect:

As neonates, most have brown markings on a gold-colored background, but virtually all mature to be shades of yellow. Adults are virtually always two shades of yellow with little to no black or gray blotch bordering.

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 January 17, 2021Old Shop

2010 Striped Bloodred

Diffused Stripe (aka: Striped Bloodred)

Most Commonly Used Name: Striped Bloodred

Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive

Type: Double mutation compound (Stripe + Diffused)

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

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

Combining the two recessive gene mutations Stripe and Diffused (aka: bloodred) renders a pale version of the Diffused mutation, most of which lost their stripe during maturity.

What to expect:
I’m sorry that we’re only pictorially demonstrating a neonate specimen, but we have no adults in our current inventory. To date, all of the Striped Diffused (aka: Striped Bloodred) corns we’ve marketed were produced by or reproduced from Rich Hume stock (arguably the original and premier breeder of more than a dozen different Striped Bloodred types), since we held back a few in past few years, with which to start our own breeding stable of this diverse Morph Line.

Many Striped Bloodreds hatch with partial striping and “tweener” markings (faded markings that appear on the dorsum in zones that would ordinarily be between dorsal blotches in wild-type patterns). Both tweener and striped markings fade with age, and most adults barely show any pattern, except under strong light. By adulthood, most Striped Bloodred (Diffused Stripe) types have lost most of their markings, often rendering the appearance of a uni-colored, pattern-less corn snake. Hence, don’t be disappointed if your neonate Striped Bloodred demonstrates less than perfect markings, because it will likely show no markings at all as an adult.

Striped Anery

Striped Anery (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Striped Anery
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive

Type: Double mutation compound (Stripe + Anery)

Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris (usually silver)

Combining the recessive gene mutations; Stripe and Anery combine to render these beautiful corns. Adult males sometimes have earth tones and adult females usually stay two shades or gray. Stripes tend to fade more in males than females throughout maturity (if they fade at all).

What to expect:
Both male and female hatchlings look alike (essentially gray or silver snakes with black or dark gray striping), but many of our males lose a noticeable amount of their stripes through maturity. Some females will lose SOME of their stripe with maturity, but some do not lose any. As with most Motley or Striped mutants, eliminating of black color zones is common, so through maturity, you will notice a softening of dark coloration. Belly should have virtually no color, but some can have gray or black mixed, but there will never be orderly pattern of any color and never checkering. Like virtually all Anery corns, expect carotenoid yellow to manifest as they mature, beginning on the face and neck – extending tail-ward with maturity.