This template contains both “gene addition” and “gene review” forms, please delete the one which is not applicable to your request
Gene Request Form
Please fill the below form out to the best of your ability. Answers do not need to be lengthy. If appropriate you may forward this request to someone who is more able to supply the answers.
Facts
Species: Ball Python
Name of Gene: Gorilla
First produced by whom: NBK Reptiles
Year First Produced: acquired in 2012, first produced in 2015, super proven in 2024.
Genetics Type (Incdom/Codom/Recessive/Polygenic/etc): incomplete Dominant / Dominant
In complex with other genes?: Not that we know of
Other names/aliases for it?: Super form is called Silver Back
Description:
Gorilla is a darkening gene with a characteristic wide dorsal and solid blacks.
As we are producing more and more and seeing them age over time, I can start to compare the Gorilla interaction to what Lace does in a way, but enhancing the dark instead of making the animals brighter. When they hatch they just look like a dark black backed snake, but as they gain size, the true jet blacks start to come through and create a very contrasted animal with solid blacks and bright white. The colour is kept all the way through adulthood.
The Super form doesn’t seem to be very influential, we are noticing some more bubbly patterns on the potential supers and a bit more connecting alien heads, but this is all theoretical as of now.
Appearance; What it does/looks like?
- Head: dark head, solid colour.
- Body: Dark dorsal, characterized by a wide black back and bold blacks.
- Belly: Very busy bellies, solid checkering patterns
- Tail: nothing particular
Proven Lines: unique lineage
Related Genes: None. HRA was debated to be very similar to Gorilla, but we had some genetic shed testing done by Heather Roffrey at Vanier College in Montreal that proved the Gorilla not being related to HRA and not being in the same complex. Right now a potential similar gene would be Genetic Black Back, but with so little known about that mutation and so few available, it’s hard to compare both.
Proven: To what degree it is proven out to not just be polygenic? We have produced multiple clutches in the project, always being able to pick out which animals were carrying the gene. Does not act in a polygenic way.
Unique: Why do you believe this is a new morph and not an existing one?
Gorilla has a unique way to darken up the genes it’s mixed with.
Problems: Any problems? None
History: The history behind its discovery?
NBK reptiles was importing many Ball Pythons from Africa in the early 2000s, selecting multiple odd looking animals through the years, building on those projects slowly over time. Brian, NBK owner, named one dark animal through the lot “Gorilla” as this snake had a very jet black dorsal and flames, with bright white coming on the alien heads. He thought the name Gorilla was a nice fit to the potential dinker animal, already calling that if there was a super form, it should be called the Silver Back, being even more fitting to the appearance of the gene.
In 2017, Antoine from DPR Coldblood started working for NBK reptiles as a breeding manager and quickly picked out this unique mutation through the dozen of dinker projects at NBK. The Gorilla was a project being left a bit on the side for years, with more energy being put at proving other genes at NBK, but it really blew all expectations in 2023 with the production of the first Gorilla GHI and Blackhead Gorilla. Those were pivotal combos for our understanding of the mutation.
Disagreement or Controversy: There has been interesting debates on the gene being closely related to HRA if not a variation of it. This was proven false as all the Gorillas at NBK were tested for HRA (Neg results) and also that an animal proved to be Super Gorilla HRA by breeding trials and shed testing. As of now the gene doesn’t fall into any known complex.
References here on the community:
-
At least one link to community discussion (ie forums) to demonstrate community acceptance Gorilla is here! New Gene Understanding* Link to WOBP if one exists.
-
Links to the wider web.
https://youtu.be/FiWu3pF_Qo0?si=bE4LA-5KfvIFsKvA
Gorilla first YouTube introduction
Please attach at least 3 photos you have rights to which you are granting to be used on MorphMarket, Including 1 image next to a Normal/WT animal
Single gene Gorilla (2018)
GHI Gorilla (2023)
GHI Gorilla and GHI comparison
Proven Super Gorilla HRA male (Hatched in 2022, proven in 2024)
Gorilla HRA Stranger (2024)
unique side pattern from Gorilla HRA Stranger
Gorilla HRA (Potential Silver Back)
Original Gorilla (2012)
Gorilla HRA Blackhead (2023)
Pastel Enchi Gorilla YB (2024)
Genetic Review Form.
Please fill the below form out to the best of your ability. Answers do not need to be lengthy. If appropriate you may forward this request to someone who is more able to supply the answers.
Current information
Species:
Name of Gene:
Genetics Type (Incdom/Codom/Recessive/Polygenic/etc):
In complex with other genes?:
Other names/aliases for it?:
Description:
Related Genes:
Problems: Any problems?
New information
Species:
Name of Gene:
Genetics Type (Incdom/Codom/Recessive/Polygenic/etc):
In complex with other genes?:
Other names/aliases for it?:
Description:
Related Genes:
Problems: Any problems?
Other History: Any additional history?
Disagreement or Controversy:
References here on the community:
Other(if something not listed above, please use this section to explain what and why you would like changed):l