Jungles

[snakelady]

Just a silly question for all of you who know much more about boas than me... What defines a boa as a jungle?

[Keri]

I'm sticking around for this as well - to me some are obvious but some really are not, I'd like to know

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[ioctoberdrums]

as far as i know its a pattern aberration. from what i have seen its usually a melding of the saddles maybe?

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[LarM]

Here is a post I've made elsewhere quite some time ago
You might find it somewhat helpful

Pastel vs Jungle??

Pastel Boa,Term "Pastel" coined by Jeff Ronne As well as the appearance of Pastel in Boa Constrictors was identified by Jeff Ronne.
Below is Mr. Ronne's Definition of Pastel
A Pastel is this: A Boa that has an odd overall wash lacking the normal amount of black and a reduction in black pigmentation in particular throughout the pattern. This is particularly apparent in babies, which have the same kind of washed out pattern as Hypos. The saddles as well as the side blotches have less black than " normal ". In fact, often the side blotches have no black whatsoever. That's it, no more no less.
Pastel is a selectively bred polygenic trait.
Some People believe the Pastel trait has something to do with color. It really does not. The Pastel trait removes black pigment allowing the color underneath to be seen.
Plus in my opinion there are varying degrees of Pastel in Boas.
Although when yuou see a really nice Pastel Boa you know it is Pastel.

The Jungle Boa
Lars Brandle of Sweden was the first to produce Jungle Boas. Peter Kahl imported some of these into the states and continued to work with them. He identified the Jungle Boas as a Codominant trait. This means a Jungle Boa has 2 distinct appearances. 1 appearance for a "normal Jungle"(Heterozygous 1 normal gene, 1 mutant gene)Then there is a different appearance for the Super Jungle Boa (Homozygous 2 mutant genes). There are distinct visual differences in the two types. So to be a Jungle Boa it must come from the Swedish Bloodline as well as have identifiable Jungle Characteristics. There are many identifiable characteristics in Jungle boas. Not every Jungle has every characteristic though.
The number 1 most obvious characteristic is an aberrant pattern.Often extremely crazy striped or chain link type patterns exist. Also holes/circles can exist in the saddles pattern. Less aberrant Jungle Boas usually show some degree of this not always.Then you have a dark thin border around tail blotches often body saddles have darker borders as well not as defined as tail.There most often is a Lateral to Dorsal color difference.A creamy buck skin type color Dorsally is quite common. With a distinct line of color that changes laterally.Unusual Dorsal Line head marking can be split or almost arrow like in shape and appearance, often with little circle holes in that head spear.I've also always thought many baby Jungles appear to have an elongated head some what.
Also jungle Boas tend to have missing saddle points.

The best way to learn how to identify Jungle Boas would be to look at pictures of known Jungle(meaning from Swedish Line)or better yet look at them in person. Once you see a true solid Jungle you understand it looks like no other Boa type.Once you grasp that then you can start to form opinions about "Low Expression Jungles" and Salmon or Hypo Jungles.

Hope this helps

Pictures of some of my Pastel Boas

From The Pastel Dream Line
Addrianna '03 Pastel Dream Het Albino



'08 Pastel Dreams& Scarlet Hypo Pastel produced here



PDShry08_6 baby pics




PDShry08_8 baby pics





Pic of My '07 Jungle Het Albino Het stripe



Couple pics of Peter Kahls Jungles @ Tinley Park NARBC 2008



Couple more of my Jungles
Pastel “PP” Jungle PH VPI Caramel Fem # 2





Pastel “PP” Jungle PH VPI Caramel Male # 3








Pastel “PP” Jungle PH VPI Caramel Fem # 4





Jungle PH VPI Caramel Fem # 6








a Jungle Boa can also be Pastel with Pastel traits
this would make it a very clean
possibly colorful Jungle Boa

I've included a Link below to KS Boa Morph page.
It's in need of updating.
Kingsnake Boa Morphs
Also below link to Jungle story on Peter Kahl site
, . . . . Lar M
Jungle Boa Peter Kahl
Jungle Boa Peter Kahl

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

	Heterozygous Heterozygous - the animal carries the gene for a genetic trait but does not outwardly demonstrate the trait. Example: A boa that is het for albino looks normal but carries the albino gene. When it is bred to another het for albino boa or an albino boa, a percentage of the offspring will be albino.

	Hypomelanistic Hypomelanistic - a genetic reduction in the dark pigment Melanin.

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[snakelady]

I think I get it a little better... BTW those are really pretty snakes!

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[LarM]

Originally Posted by snakelady

I think I get it a little better... BTW those are really pretty snakes!

Sometimes, well usually it takes some time and a lot of picture browsing or
even better looking at nice real Jungle Boas in person

Thankyou I'm glad you enjoyed my Boa Images

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[morti]

I will admit... I used to scoff at the idea of jungles, just because I really couldn't see them in pics. The first ones that I saw in real life changed my mind. Especially the first Hypo Super Jungle I saw in person.



LdyDrgn took that pic at Pete Kahl's table.

When people ask me "Is this snake a jungle" I pretty generally will always say "Dunno. Grow it up and breed it to another jungle and see if you make supers."

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

	Hypomelanistic Hypomelanistic - a genetic reduction in the dark pigment Melanin.

[Sakara]

than you Lar

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[nitram]

most jungles i see are highly abarrent for the most part they look like normals with irregular saddles and even tail patterns. to me they get really interesting when in super form, then it's pretty distinct as what exactly a jungle is. i have a normal that looks "junglish" in that she is highly abberant and could probably pass for a pastel too since she's really clean hardly has any speckling and the black outline on her pattern is somewhat faded. i'll post pics of her after she sheds, she's all wrinkly lookin now.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters