Reptile Morph & Gene Library — Inheritance, Zygosities and Descriptions

Absence of melanin leading to bright reds/oranges

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Anerythristic, or Anery, is a color mutation in reptiles that results in a lack of red or orange pigmentation.

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Reduced/absent yellow pigment (grayscale appearance)

Axanthic lines are generally incompatible across lines

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Extremely dark pigmentation, reduces pattern in some 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.

Reduces pattern; cleaner look in 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.

Reduced melanin in the body, but normal eye color. Lighter body coloration. Recessive

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Broken or disrupted stripes/bands (vs clean Tiger stripes); more scattered pattern.

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 brown tone differences; perhaps reduced orange / yellow in pattern; sometimes noticeable white on tail at hatch; affects coloration and pattern intensity.

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.

Caramel-colored phenotype

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Caramel Albino is a recessive color morph in Dumeril’s boas that greatly reduces dark pigment, turning the snake’s usual brown-and-black look into warm cream/yellow/tan “caramel” tones with a softer, lower-contrast pattern (often with lighter eyes and possible mild light sensitivity).

possible mild light sensitivity

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Pattern-reducing recessive with bold headstamp

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Example: Boa Constrictors (Motley Morph) Incomplete Dominant (Co-Dominant) – One copy alters the pattern, while two copies (super form) create a more extreme Motley look. In boas, Motley creates a connected or reduced saddle pattern along the back.

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.

Example: Scaleless-Head Ball Python One copy (heterozygous): The snake has a reduced number of scales, particularly on the head. Two copies (homozygous, "Super Scaleless-Head"): The snake is completely scaleless. This means Scaleless-Head is an incomplete dominant (co-dominant) gene, where the super form is fully scaleless.

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.

Intensifies orange/pink/red hues. Often shows best in 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.

Reduced webbing between fin rays

Polygenic: Determined by multiple genes

Eliminates belly checkers; deeper reds

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Overall washed-out reduction of pigments

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

The Hypo (Hypomelanistic) gene is found in various animal species and reduces the amount of black (melanin) pigment, resulting in a lighter or washed-out appearance. It does not eliminate black pigment completely like albinism but creates a more muted colour.

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Wobbly neuro mutation with banded or jagged patterning; reduces black pigment

This gene is also linked to neurological problems in some individuals, which can manifest as a "wobble" or other issues. Jaguar × Jaguar is not viable — the homozygous form is lethal.

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.

Reduction of dark pigments; orange enhancement

Recessive: Requires two copies to express

Reduced dorsal scalation (smoother texture)

Leatherback × Leatherback produces Silkback, which is scaleless and carries welfare problems including shedding difficulty, skin damage and heat sensitivity.

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.

Elongated dorsal markings; belly pattern reduced

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

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.