ID Help?

[guidofatherof5]

Ok, what is gravid?

With snake.

[Invisible Snake]

Gravid is the technical term for a pregnant reptile.

[Dan72]

Here's a pic of the albino I found at the end of March, in my yard in Des Moines.

DSC_0474.jpg

[kimbosaur]

Is it for sure an albino? No expert by any means, but could it be hypomelanistic? Please correct me if I'm way off.

[infernalis]

It's albino.......

[kimbosaur]

Would you mind explaining the difference? I'm still learning all the differences between these terms/mutations.

[ConcinusMan]

Gravid is the technical term for a pregnant reptile.

Gravid means that the animal has developing offspring OR eggs within the body. This can apply to any animal, egg laying, live bearing reptiles, or even placental mammals.

reptiles don't get pregnant. Only mammals do.

[ConcinusMan]

Would you mind explaining the difference? I'm still learning all the differences between these terms/mutations.

Hypomelanistic refers to reduced production of melanin, or melanin deficiency. Some melanin is produced, but not at normal levels. Think of it as "in between" normal and albino.

"albino" is just another word for amelanistic, meaning, the animal produces NO melanin. There are different types of albino. T positives (T stands for tyrosinase) produce a melanin precursor called tyrosinase, but can't convert it to melanin. "nebraska" albino plains garter is a good example. They are albino, but a bit darker than most albinos. Their eyes are usually a dark ruby color or even close to normal.

T negative albinos can't even produce tyrosinase in the first place, and are much lighter in color, with typical pink eyes. Where melanin (dark pigments) would normally be, there's nothing. No color at all. "Iowa" albino plains garter is a good example.

Is it for sure an albino? No expert by any means, but could it be hypomelanistic? Please correct me if I'm way off.

You're not way off. it could be hypomelanistic but it's not. The pigment you see (sort of straw colored) is not melanin in this snake. It's tyrosinase that has failed to be converted to melanin. Hypomelanistics produce melanin, just not at normal levels. Their eyes are usually completely normal. This snake has ruby eyes.

What I'm saying is that the snake in the first post is a T positive albino "nebraska albino" plains garter. So is the one Dan posted. Same mutation.

[katach]

Great explanation Richard, thank you.

[Stefan-A]

Gravid means that the animal has developing offspring OR eggs within the body. This can apply to any animal, egg laying, live bearing reptiles, or even placental mammals.

reptiles don't get pregnant. Only mammals do.

Got a source for that last statement?