Phantom explanation?

[catawhat75]

I understand most morphs out there but I still can't wrap my head around the Phantom. What makes a Phantom a Phantom? Is it something you can pick out when you see one in real life? I see pics of what people are calling Phantom, but they don't really know so that is even more confusing. Aaaak! Can someone who has some real knowledge of this mutation please explain it to me, and show me pics of them (other than RDR's, I have gone over that site 1000's of times, I still don't get it!)

[West Coast Jungle]

Have you seen the super phantom? there is no mistaking that one.

Get a good BP book like The Barkers or Kevin McCurleys and study all the morphs(lots of fun) and you will start to recognize more of the variations.

[catawhat75]

I can spot the super, those are easy, lol. As far as studying, I have read Kevin's book so many times that it is already worn and I still don't get the Phantom. It is the only morph that I just can't figure out.

[wolfy-hound]

Don't feel bad, I still cna't pick out a yellowbelly.. even after having people show me In Person.

[Petboy15]

The only pictures you will see are probably Ralph's, he's the only one that has them.Though he did sell a pair to Pro Exotics. Anyways, once you see them in person they are easier to spot out. Think along the lines of a mojave, with less vibrant colors and darker.

[muddoc]

Well, I don't have a Phantom, but we do have a Mystic (which many believe will turn out to be a Phantom, time will tell). I have seen a good bit of variability in Phantoms from Ralph, and the Phantoms that NERD has. I also got to see variability in the Mystics that Anthony McCain has. I think they are one of those morphs that need to be seen in person, but I attempted to take a few pics to show their difference. I posted one next to the normalist normal I could find, and one that shows a close up of the head and eye color, as well as the floating alien heads and the white flames near the belly. (most of those traits are indicative of the morph from what I have seen).
Hope the pics are ok.

[Petboy15]

That normal is too gold, not normal enough!!!

But seriously, Ralph's Phantoms don't look nearly as bright as that Mystic. They are very similar looking to a mojave. When I first saw them, I couldn't decide if they were mojaves or normals, so they are in that middle area. But they do have the floating alien head pattern.

Here is a picture off of RDR's birthing record. Its not as "bright" colored, but I still really like them.(Remember, the body color isn't that reddish color, that's just nice blushing.)

[ajeff]

If you have not seen it, here is a link to Ralphs Phantom page:
http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/ma...ts/phantom.asp

I am sort of thinking the Phantom is just a different blood line of a Mojave. I mean they basicly look the same. Kind of like the Platinum and Butters are. But this don't seem to explain the super phantoms?

Phantoms crossed with the lessers produce BELs
Mojaves crossed with lesser produce BELS
Lessers crossed with lessers prodcue BELs
Mojave crossed with Mojave produce BELs
and so on
But a Phantom crossed with a Phantom produce a Non white super phantom!? But they look like a Mojave!?

While we are on the topic, I am starting to wonder if that hidden trait the platinum has perhaps skips a generation?

[RandyRemington]

Because the homozygous (aka "super") phantom looks different than the homozygous mojave it seems likely they are distinctly different mutations. However, the compatibility and more important the breeding results of the leucistics from cross lines seems to indicate that this group consists of different mutations of the same gene (alleles).

Further, I think that the mutation that added to lesser creates a platinum is yet another mutant version of the same gene as lesser, mojave, phantom, Vin Russo, mocha, butter, and probably a few more lines not yet named. The tricky part of this hidden or as I like to call it dilute gene that is part of making a platinum is that it's even more subtle than phantom and doesn't seem to be distinguishable from normal by it's self and even when homozygous still looks normal. But when combined with lesser it has a diluting effect to make a platy. Will be interesting to eventually see if it does the same with mojave and other members of this complex.