Reptile Morph & Gene Library — Inheritance, Zygosities and Descriptions

White lateral patches (polygenic selection)

Polygenic: Determined by multiple genes

Thin striped pattern mutation

Dominant: Single gene sufficient to express

Creates maze-like patterning.

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

A continuous stripe or rearranged patterning along the body.

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Reduces all pigment (melanin, carotenoids, etc.), producing an all-white animal with dark eyes.

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Example: Eastern Indigo Snake Naturally melanistic, with high black pigmentation. When present in other species, melanism is often recessive. Example: Melanistic Corn Snake (Rare) Requires two copies of the melanistic gene to be fully black. A heterozygous (het) melanistic snake looks normal but carries the gene.

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Example: Scaleless Corn Snakes Requires two copies of the Scaleless gene to be completely scaleless. If a snake inherits only one copy, it looks normal but carries the Scaleless gene (heterozygous or "het Scaleless").

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Red is a color trait—a visible characteristic (phenotype) based on pigmentation, such as feather color, scale color, or fur.

Line bred colour trait: A line-bred color trait refers to a specific color characteristic in animals that is maintained or intensified through line breeding.

Deep brown and reddish tones.

Co-Dominant: One copy is visibly expressed. Two copies produce a distinct "super" form, which differs from gene to gene — see the individual gene for what its super looks like.

Reddish dorsal stripe influence

Co-Dominant: One copy is visibly expressed. Two copies produce a distinct "super" form, which differs from gene to gene — see the individual gene for what its super looks like.

Tyrosinase-negative albino eyes

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Leucistic-producing allele in BEL complex

BEL complex allele interactions can produce leucistics

Co-Dominant: One copy is visibly expressed. Two copies produce a distinct "super" form, which differs from gene to gene — see the individual gene for what its super looks like.

Enhanced dorsal hump (breed trait)

Polygenic: Determined by multiple genes

A recessive trait that darkens the overall coloration, creating a rich, dark brown or black appearance.

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Reduction/loss of scales

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Wild-type normal body color; dominant over blond and golden.

Dominant: Single gene sufficient to express

Reticulated pattern across body and tail.

Dominant: Single gene sufficient to express

Skin texture trait: fewer bumps in skin scales, giving a softer feel; may correlate with other visual changes.

Line bred colour trait: A line-bred color trait refers to a specific color characteristic in animals that is maintained or intensified through line breeding.

Subtle alone; essential for Crystal combos.

Co-Dominant: One copy is visibly expressed. Two copies produce a distinct "super" form, which differs from gene to gene — see the individual gene for what its super looks like.

Yellow Belly complex allele

Yellow Belly complex allele interactions

Co-Dominant: One copy is visibly expressed. Two copies produce a distinct "super" form, which differs from gene to gene — see the individual gene for what its super looks like.

Reduced pattern with web-like patterning

Associated with wobble/neurological issues in many specimens. No homozygous Spider has ever been produced; Spider × Spider is widely believed to be lethal in the egg.

Dominant: Single gene sufficient to express

Pattern-altering mutation; crucial in certain combos

Use caution with certain pairings (e.g., Wobble genes)

Co-Dominant: One copy is visibly expressed. Two copies produce a distinct "super" form, which differs from gene to gene — see the individual gene for what its super looks like.

Dark gene, high contrast, expensive morph.

Co-Dominant: One copy is visibly expressed. Two copies produce a distinct "super" form, which differs from gene to gene — see the individual gene for what its super looks like.

Longitudinal striping along dorsum

Recessive: Requires two copies to express