Rough Scaled 2024 Examples

[Martin Nowak]

I continue to work with various phenotypes and genetic morphs of the rough scaled sand boa.
In these two posts I reference names including: spotted stripe (SS); extreme reduced (XR); and "ocelot".
The SS is so-called to distinguish it from other forms of striping such as zig-zag (another phenotype or morph TBD) that I am working with.

In this post I show three slides of different SS litters to indicate various embodiments of the central stripe. In all this morph .. the sides have small spots.
Dorsal stripe can vary in width. Base colors include creme, yellow, tan. Those who have this morph now know it is a true recessive gene.

Also included is a picture example of an adult female SS x XR which exhibits neither trait. While I am not certain yet ... a couple more generations needed ... I think the XR trait will show to be a recessive gene as well. (additional pics in comments)

Looking for reader comments and observations. Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[Martin Nowak]

XR Examples

 

[Socratic Monologue]

How does the XR relate to your 'reduced pattern' line? I have a pair purchased from a third party that were advertised as your 'reduced pattern blaze orange' They're nice snakes, BTW.

 

[Martin Nowak]

Glad you like some I've produced. RP = reduced pattern.
The "blaze" and "orange" are line bred. And then line bred into the morph gene carriers.
RP is really a line bred pattern that I describe as being "reduction in the blotch sizes and shapes". More related to the reduction of the horizontal shapes of the blotches. If one breeds an RP to another pattern - the litter will turn out having varying degrees of both parents' patterns.
The XR phenotype shows usually rounded blotches - small and fewer - on the lower 1/3 - 1/2 of the body. Visual x visual will produce 100% XR.
Het XR x Het XR will produce the usual 25% visual. As you see above in the pic of the XR x SS - resultant offspring have a fairly well defined wild type pattern. I've seen this in x3 pairings of XR x SS. And please note that N is "few" since the litters tend to be small ... work in progress. Continuous learning doing these breeding projects.
Some more pics attached.
2024 RP compared to 2024 XR.
And then a new line I am working with ... a red / reddish wild type. You will see this color palate online in pictures out of India. This picture does not quite show the beautiful brick red background color. The orange on the tail is happenstance and not planned or line bred. But the tail offers possibilities as well.
It is most aggravating that i am out of cage space and have too many projects to pursue. Quit my day job ?

Thanks for your compliment and glad you like 'em !

 

[ckjacques]

Love that wild type girl you have, I wish I could get my hands on some of the animals in India.

 

[Martin Nowak]

Thanks CK. I have a young male very similar to that reddish female. Will let you know in 2025 if the babies look like mom - some should.

 

[paigeishere]

interesting work with the different morphs. I'm not super familiar with sand boas, but are these traits unique to rough scaled ones or seen in other species too?

 

[Martin Nowak]

I would not say these traits are unique to sand boas in general nor to rough scaled sand boas in particular. Various genetic morphs are known in most all species and I would recommend you Google about morphs among the species. Similar morphs or traits are found in many species - such albinism (and many other phenotypes). The most well known varieties would be in ball pythons.
Look through the sales ads here on FaunaClassifieds to see the many morphs. Some traits - while certainly having their basis in genetics ... are line bred to bring out desirable visual appearances. No different than selective breeding seen in various mammals.