Species
Ball Python
Name of Gene
Iconic
Inheritence type
Incomplete Dominant
In complex with other genes?
Mahogany, Nyala, Black Pastel, Cinnamon
Other names/aliases
None
Appearance - Head
In the base form, the head has distinct blushing starting infront of the eyes to the back of the head.
Eye stripes are narrow compared to normal.
The super form has n pure black head with white around the heat pits.
Appearance - Body
On the base form the body appears significantly darker compared to normal.
On the Base form the back stripe is prominent, and broken into segments. It is also characterized with bubbles interrupting the back stripe.
The alien heads are characterised by some being separated from the belly, creating a balloon/bubble effect. The alien heads are relatively clean creating a crisp contrast on the dark back ground.
Slight pixelation forms at the bottom of the alien heads and the key holes are extremely variable.
Blushing is present between the alien heads.
The Super form is a black snake with a bronze coloured back stripe.
Appearance - Belly
On the base form the belly is white with black edges separating the alien heads from the belly.
The Super form has a clear withe belly.
Appearance - Tail
On the base the tail has a prominent back stripe and stark black back ground with variable alien heads.
The Super form has a black tail with n bronze coloured back stripe.
Proven lines
This is the only known line of this gene
Related genes
To date, nothing has been proven to be related to this gene.
Proven
Year 1 (2022): Starting from a single adult male, I produced a simple combination of this gene combined with a Bel complex gene. The result was significant and different from any other 2 gene combo in existence.
Year 2 (2024): I created more simple 2 gene combos with yellowbelly, and banana, and pastel. Visually the are different from any other 2 gene combos with yellowbelly, and banana, and pastel.
Year 3(2025): I produced the Super form of the gene which is a black snake with a bronze back stripe.
Unique
To answer this we need to look at 4 factors, pattern, colour, and visual appearance.
This is a pattern disrupting gene and a dark morph. In all the combos produced with existing genes (mojave, yellowbelly, pastel, banana), to date, there is a clear pattern difference compared to the the single gene versions. There is also a clear pattern difference compared to similar 2 gene combos involving chocolate, mahogany, stranger and wookie.
A deeper saturation of colour is present in the existing combos of this new morph proving it is inherently a dark morph by nature.
Visually this gene has a similar appearance to Chocolate, Stranger, and Wookie. But the proven black super form proves that it is not related to any of them.
The homozygous form of this gene appears similar to super Mahogany, super copper, and super cinder, however the single gene base morph differs significantly in appearance.
Problems
None
History
The Origins of this gene starts in West Africa where it was originally imported to South Africa by Rassie from BPM reptiles.
I, acquired the gene from Rassie in 2021 to work the project and prove the genetics.
Disagreement or controversy
Based on the evidence there is no disputes or disagreements.
Visual apearance:
Visually this morph appears similar to chocolate, stranger, and wookie. However the homozygous form proves it is not related.
The homozygous form appears similar to Super Mahogany and Super Copper, and super Cinder but the single gene base looks significantly different in appearance.
Rassie (the founder of Nyala), has confirmed that this gene is different from Nyala.
