What makes my sons ghost a ghost?

My son has the below snake and I've been trying to explain to him what makes it a ghost. Problem is I have no idea. Are there visual clues? Thanks for helping.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/01/u3e3e4eg.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

The faded "ghostly" look. See how it appears to always be going into shed, and that blushed out head? Spoooooooky!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob

The faded "ghostly" look. See how it appears to always be going into shed, and that blushed out head? Spoooooooky!

---

X2
Ghost to me pretty much always look like they are about to shed

This should explain the ghost traits.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-Morphs-Ghosts

There's no pigment in the outer layer of skin. It only exists a layer down, so it gives it a 'glow' effect.

There are no true black pigments on a ghost, which is why the morph's "real" name is hypomelanistic.

Thanks for the help everyone, I appreciate it.

What line of ghost is that? I love how gray it is. Looks completely different from my OG girl.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Annarose15

There are no true black pigments on a ghost, which is why the morph's "real" name is hypomelanistic.

---

This exactly. Hypomelanistic = a reduced amount of melanin which is what makes up the black pigment.

That picture looks a lot like one of my butterscotch ghosts.

Looks like a good enough place to ask this question... ;)

I understand the hypo-melanistic part, reduced amounts of black pigment, no problem there.
But does this mean the yellow pigments are unaffected? Just want to make sure I understand that correctly.

Hypomelanism is a term used to describe a mutation in an animal that causes a reduction in melanophres. It shouldn't affect the amount of yellow in a snake which is produced by another type of pigment called xanthophores

Here is a little wikipedia link to Chromatophores which is the collective term used for pigmentation cells.

The fact that only the black pigment is affected is why a lot of ghosts show enhanced amounts of colour, whether yellow or orange, etc. It's what makes them so pretty.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/02/8usyvy8e.jpg
Thanks again for the replies. One of the main reasons that prompted me to ask other than my son asking is that I don't see a lot of pictures that look like my sons snake. He is almost grey and black. If you really look hard you can see the brown/tan in him but from a quick look he is black and grey which is why my son wanted him. Anyway thanks again for the help. Mario is up 80 grams in the last month and has not missed a weekly feed!
STM

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seanjackmc

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/02/8usyvy8e.jpg
Thanks again for the replies. One of the main reasons that prompted me to ask other than my son asking is that I don't see a lot of pictures that look like my sons snake. He is almost grey and black. If you really look hard you can see the brown/tan in him but from a quick look he is black and grey which is why my son wanted him. Anyway thanks again for the help. Mario is up 80 grams in the last month and has not missed a weekly feed!
STM

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

---

What a cutie.

P.S. Your son looks OK too-quite a cheeky grin.