True they are just labels.
The name "Ghost" was given improperly to Hypo ball pythons. The Ghost morph in other snakes is a Hypomelanistic (Hypo) & Anerythristic double recessive. So why should it be different for Ball Pythons? Snows are the same as other snakes, being Albino & Axanthic double recessive. Most if not all other simple base color morphs equate the same to other reptiles so why not the Ghost & Hypo?
The Hypo trait is actually quite similar to amelanism. Tyrosinase is produced but is blocked from gaining access into the melanophores. Therefore, the amounts of melanin produced are substantially reduced. Often areas which would normally appear solid black are almost translucent. Additionally many specimens seem to have reduced amounts of melanophores present. This may simply be the result of selection for the brighter coloration in captive populations. It is likely that several different alleles may be at work here, all lumped under the term hypomelanism by herpetoculturists.









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