Geographic Distribution of Proven and Unproven Morphs

Are certain Ball Python genetic morphs more likely to be found in certain regions of Africa (i.e West vs. Central, etc.) more than others?

What about unproven, possibly environmentally induced, traits, like hypermelanistic?

My albinos came from the central part of Oklahoma. They seem to be higher in contrast than some from different regions I have seen. I hope this helps :)

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Originally Posted by cueball

My albinos came from the central part of Oklahoma. They seem to be higher in contrast than some from different regions I have seen. I hope this helps :)

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*throws a pillow at Cue* Shoosh, you! He's being serious... =D

I bought this one in Flordia and have seen others that look kinda like it in Flordia aswell...


http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...thon/bpava.jpg

Pillow fight :mouse2:

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Originally Posted by cueball

My albinos came from the central part of Oklahoma. They seem to be higher in contrast than some from different regions I have seen. I hope this helps :)

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LOL.....

Alright seriously though I don't know if anyone will know this but I am talking about their natural distribution in Africa

I think to get information that you're looking for you may have to go directly to the big boy breeders who occasionally import possible morphs from Africa. Try calling or emailing Ralph Davis, VPI, TSK, Peter Kahl...see what they have for information. :)

you have to think of this kind of information this way....

....if you found a gold mine that anyone could have access to, but they do not know where it is.....would you tell them where it is?

...the ball python trade in Africa has been compared to the drug trade before... the 'situation' over there is a bit different than it is over here....I really doubt there is someone gathering distribution data....and if they have it...they probably are not sharing it...

But having said that.....certain locals of ball pythons are often discussed. i.e. the Enchi Pastel comes for the Enchi region....

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Originally Posted by cueball

My albinos came from the central part of Oklahoma. They seem to be higher in contrast than some from different regions I have seen. I hope this helps :)

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You, my friend, are out of your mind! Rock on!! :giggle:

Relatively speaking, the geographic area that all ball pythons come from is incredibly small.

As far as specifics, that's big business ... you'll have better luck squeezing someone for the secret addictive additive that Starbucks puts in those kick ace coffees!

From the people that I have talked to that have been over there collecting, there does seem to sometimes be concentrated pockets ... but the collection process is not what you would think it is and the answers to your question aren't really black and white. ;)

-adam

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

you have to think of this kind of information this way....

....if you found a gold mine that anyone could have access to, but they do not know where it is.....would you tell them where it is?

...the ball python trade in Africa has been compared to the drug trade before... the 'situation' over there is a bit different than it is over here....I really doubt there is someone gathering distribution data....and if they have it...they probably are not sharing it...

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Your probably right to a certain extent...however, I dont know if it is as secretive as the drug trade.....after all there are arent as many restrictions on the exotic pet trade as the illegal drug trade....

Plus many governments want to protect their natural resources.....I think Adam mentioned that many Africian governments do a decent job of regulating this.....

In the process of protecting their resources they might collect some distribution data.....

For example....

In H Bernard Bechtel's Book on Reptile Variants, he discusses how the city of Iwakuni Japan had a extermely high number of albino Japanese Rat Snakes....However, when their numbers started declining the governement and citizens established a conservation program and an artifical breeding program to make sure they didnt lose this natural distinction among Japanese cities.....

Thanks for the info on the Enchi Pastel......I wondered about that strange name!