Will someone PLEASE explain Yellowbellies?

There must be something I am missing. I have read the hunter's guide, quite a few times. I have looked at pictures on BP.net and plenty of other places. I have held snakes in my hands at shows. I just don't get how one identifies a YB from a normal.

Help please?

Yellowbellies are a very subtle morph. Here's a link to NERD's site and description of yellowbellies. http://www.newenglandreptile.com/ner...ll-python.html

From what I've seen some yellowbellies stand out from the crowd and others look very normal. If the intense belly flames aren't represented it becomes very hard to distinguish it from a normal.

To me the most distinguishable part of a yellow belly is the belly markings(speckly) running on either side of their bellies.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/P1060040.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/P1050385.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/P1050387.jpg

I realize that that was not an explaination, but more of examples.

ALL of those are Yellowbellies.

It was to show the speckling that Raul was mentioning, and the need to be able to see the sides and the belly to really ID the animal.

'06 Female YB 900g

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0067-4.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0071-1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0072-1.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0073-2.jpg

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

http://jetpythons.com/IMG_7631.JPG




If you need a cheat pict:

http://jetpythons.com/IMG_7644.JPG

Thanks for the replies, altho I'm not sure I'm any closer to understanding. :weirdface

In this pic that Heather posted, are the spots I've circled part of the "speckling" that people refer to?
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...HeathersYB.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tosha_Mc

http://jetpythons.com/IMG_7631.JPG

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In this pic, what immediately jumps out at me is the white borders on the one in the lower right, and the absence or reduction of white borders in the other 3. But I have never seen white borders or the lack thereof mentioned as part of how to identify a YB?

Somewhat...

Most people are referring to it in contrast to the belly side.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...P1030405-1.jpg

If you take a look at Tosha's pictures and compare it to the normal, maybe it will make more sense?

the bottom right is a normal

http://jetpythons.com/IMG_7631.JPG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kc261

In this pic, what immediately jumps out at me is the white borders on the one in the lower right, and the absence or reduction of white borders in the other 3. But I have never seen white borders or the lack thereof mentioned as part of how to identify a YB?

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That is one of the ways to identify a Het Ivory... It does say it in the "Hunter's Guide". Het Ivories have Yellow borders (or outlines as i usually put it =) Some het ivories will have a little white . That is one of the fastest ways to identify one.

OK, if those spots can be part of what makes a YB, my "normal" has those spots. I've never thought she was a YB; for one thing she was sold to me by Ian G, and I assumed he'd know. I don't think she looks as speckled on the side of her belly, but some pics I've seen that were supposedly YBs didn't look all that speckled either. If she was YB, it would certainly explain my confusion! LOL.

Here are pics from several months ago:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...h_Wakuna_2.jpg

Some flames:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...h_Wakuna_6.jpg

Close up of some of those funny spots:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...h_Wakuna_5.jpg

Belly shot:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...h_Wakuna_4.jpg

Not a YB...

It is the sides of the belly that are the indicator that she is not.

Compare to the other photos posted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

Not a YB...

It is the sides of the belly that are the indicator that she is not.

Compare to the other photos posted.

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OK, I didn't think she was, but like I said, if she had been, it would have explained my confusion!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NextWorldExotics

That is one of the ways to identify a Het Ivory... It does say it in the "Hunter's Guide". Het Ivories have Yellow borders (or outlines as i usually put it =) Some het ivories will have a little white . That is one of the fastest ways to identify one.

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Not in the version that I've been reading? I just went and checked it again, and didn't see it. :confused:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=45579

If the yellow borders are a reasonably reliable way of identifying a YB, that is something that really jumps out at me.