white snake...

Barrin · #1 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 04:12 AM

I saw these definitions in ritchie's page and I was wondering what was the diference and how do you tell them apart?
I've seen a lot of SNOWS and have always thought that white snakes where snows....
so whats up with LEUCISTIC?

Snow - a snake that is homozygous for both albino ( absent or deficient melanin ) and axanthic (having no yellow color) or for some other species albino ( absent or deficient melanin ) and anerythristic( having no red color ).

Leucistic - a pure white snake with dark eyes.

Melanin - black or brown skin pigmentation

Does anyone have pics of wither of the two and can tell me what the diference is. because every time I saw a white snake I always thought it to be a snow....

My big interest in this is: I just love all white snakes...
Thanks for the help [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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telefrag · #2 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 04:21 AM

a snow is basically a true albino, since albinism is the lack of all pigment,
amelanistic snakes still show evidence of red chromophores (Eyrthristic), so not by definition a true albino.

Leucism on the other hand, I dont know what the technical term is really for that,
since yes, pigment in the eyes is retained.

Basically a "snow" animal will have red eyes
a leucistic will be white or mainly white with normal colored eyes.

I was once told that leucism was a combination of melanism, and hypomelanism, or some have even described it to me as a extreme form of anerythrism x hypomelanism.
I personally think its enigmatic, and more a result of extreme genetic stresses.
But its a simple recessive trait which can normally indicate simple manipulation of the standard chromophores.
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Barrin · #3 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 04:31 AM

?
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telefrag · #4 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 04:38 AM

?

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

I have this bad habit of sometimes typing things too fast before I think more about them,
and its hard for even me to understand.

Which part needs more clarification?

One thing I can say,
is a "snow" can vary in its color combinations, a "snow" cornsnake is lacking red and black pigment (erythraphores and melanaphores respectively, assuming I spelled them right).
But other examples of snow are combinations of other pigments.
(I cant remember off hand which, im not a morph guy)

Barrin · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 04:45 AM

Im lookin for more of an idiots version of the specific diference in what they just look like.
If you saw them together how would you tell them apart... the eyes? or.......
are they boath all white?. does one of them have a pattern and the other not...?
sorry if I sound dumb... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]

you just added on there while I was typin didnt you? lmao
I thought that snow was just all white and no other colors.
_________________
Do you hear what Im skreemin?

telefrag · #6 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 04:55 AM

well,
in a nutshell,
a snow will normally have red eyes.

a leucistic will have dark, or normally colored eyes.
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najaboy · #7 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 05:00 AM

A leucistic reptile is alabaster white with blue or black eyes. Leucism is the total absense of skin pigment.

"Snows" still have pigmented skin and red eyes. For example, a snow boa constrictor lacks red and black pigment. Yellow pigment is still present. These animals still have a discernable pattern.

Even "blizzards" have faint traces of pattern.

Just remember red eyes & some pattern (no matter how faint)= snow, and completely white with dark eyes= leucistic.
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Barrin · #8 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 05:05 AM

Perfect!
Thanks a lot guys.
you two rock!

I'll still enjoy a couple o pics if annyugottem [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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najaboy · #9 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 05:34 AM

Excuse my bad pics- they were taken under less than optimal conditions. The posted pics are mine. The linked pics belong to NERD, Pete Kahl, Pete Kahl, Don Sodenberg, and Don Sodenberg- in that order.

Snow bull snake

Snow San Diego gopher snake (Applegate phase)

Leucistic ball python

Snow boa constrictor

Leucistic ball python

Snow corn snake

Leucistic Texas rat snake
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telefrag · #10 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 05:37 AM

nice gopher and bull.

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Barrin · #11 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 06:02 AM

leucistic is what Ive been mistaken then thanks...
every thing that I have been presented at the pet store as a snow was actually a leucistic.
My fav'es are the snow boa and the leucistic rat...
They are all awsome genetic features... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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