Anyone have info on erythriphore in BPs?

[PythonWallace]

Does anyone have any, or know where to find, information about the presence of red pigment in ball pythons?

[muddoc]

Man Jake, you won't let that go. I will be watching this thread closely, as I would love to learn a bit more about this. I just have opinions, but would definitely like to hear if there is actually some data out there.

[MarkS]

I seriously doubt that balls have erythrophores. Sure, you do get reddish colors on some from time to time, but look at mammals. Mammals ONLY have melanines for color pigments and look at how many red haired mammals there are.

[PythonWallace]

Man Jake, you won't let that go. I will be watching this thread closely, as I would love to learn a bit more about this. I just have opinions, but would definitely like to hear if there is actually some data out there.

I just can't let it go, man. I'd really like to know if there is anybody out there with some data, or at least someone, who is capable, looking into it. I always thought it was accepted that they didn't, but I questioned it. Then in my last thread on this topic it looked like everyone had always accepted that it was present. I thought I was on my way to learning something new, but nobody had any info other than assumptions. I have some opinions, but guess work is pointless here without data. I just can't believe that nobody really knows the answer to this, being that ball pythons are so popular.

[dr del]

Hi,

I tried searching but couldn't find anything at all.

Perhaps direct contact with some of the top herp vets might be the way to go?

The guy who was working on that virus for example? Anyone who sees more than their fair share of BP's to necropsy might be willing to at least have a cursory look into the question.

Only other way forward would be to try and selectively remove the yellow and black pigments?

How would combining burgundy and VPI axanthics work out? Would there be anything left and if so what?


dr del