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Originally Posted by Slim

This is an outstanding point, because the scaleless Ball Python is not a morph...it's a deformity. Of course, unlike kinked Carmel Albinos, this is a deformity that some seem to find cute, but still, it's not a morph.

I have nothing against Brian, but I don't even think he calls it a morph.

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Every single mutation is a deformity. A "morph" is what we all call something that differs from the normal wild type so the scaleless does in fact fall into that definition that we have given to the word.

knowledge is earned not learned

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Originally Posted by OsirisRa32

How is it not a morph if the het form shows them on the head and the homo or super form is completely scaleless...and SO far at least with the initial generations of what BHB has done its proven inheritable and genetic...last I checked thats the definition of a mutation/morph?

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Originally Posted by T&C Exotics

Every single mutation is a deformity. A "morph" is what we all call something that differs from the normal wild type so the scaleless does in fact fall into that definition that we have given to the word.

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Yes, under the textbook definition of polymorphism, anything that can be passed along to the next generation is a "morph". But you can not deny the fact that in this hobby, we use the term morph to indicate animals who have a different color or pattern than the "normal" or "wild type". Color and pattern changes are usually not dangerous to the animal, and these animals could and do thrive in the wild, with albinism being a possible exception due to increased predation. However, to call color and pattern variations a deformity is a bit of a stretch in the practical sense. Calling an animal who is born with and can pass along detrimental structural mutations is the practical definition of a deformity. If anyone would like to argue that a scaleless BP could or has thrived in the wild, please feel free to do so, but I will always draw a very sharp distinction between structural and non-structural mutations.

Is a red eyed tree frog born with no eyes a morph? By definition, sure...How many of those would you like to breed. How about 3 legged German Shepherds? How many of those "morphs" do you want to order?