Do Melanistic Leopard Geckos Exist?

Gazz · Feb 5, 2008

I maybe wrong but the way i under stand it to be is (Hyper melanistic)-just increased melanin.Hyper mel's have visible patterning like any other leo that show's pattern with a dark blacky/brownish cast.I would put Lottiz black velvet in this class and the other dark brownish leo's that we see as being hyper mel's.

And a proper melanistic as being point blank (BLACK) no if's but's or maybe's.

On that note check out the new cute VERY DARK but there's is patterning so hyper mel (black pearl) baby.You'd almost think it was a fattail X leo

.

http://www.livingartgeckos.com/breeders1.html

http://www.livingartgeckos.com/galeria_livingartgeckos/021.jpg

http://www.livingartgeckos.com/galeria_livingartgeckos/058.jpg

http://www.livingartgeckos.com/galeria_livingartgeckos/051.jpg

http://www.livingartgeckos.com/galeria_livingartgeckos/080.jpg

http://www.livingartgeckos.com/galeria_livingartgeckos/081.jpg

http://www.livingartgeckos.com/galeria_livingartgeckos/085.jpg

Gregg M · Feb 5, 2008

Those are awesome...
It would be interesting to see how they turn out as adults...

Thanks for the links Gazz...

GroovyGeckos.com · Feb 5, 2008

I think those are "melanistic"(or Hyper Melanistic, call them what you will it is the same thing) LGs.

Just seeing geckos THAT dark, and them having perfectly white bellies, say to me that Leos will always have light colored bellies. I dont know about the rest of you guys.

Ccrashca069 · Feb 5, 2008

Good Point about the bellies. I made a commet about bellies earlier. Would that mean that all the morphs would have to be renamed because their bellies are not Tang, yellow, spotted, striped, ect........... but only white?

Lottiz · Feb 5, 2008

White is no colour, it's lack of colours, so of course they can have white bellies...stupid me :bomb:

Ccrashca069 · Feb 5, 2008

LOL!!!!!!!!!! Its ok Lottiz I been thinking about it all day while looking at alot of differant geckos and noticed they all had white bellies. Not just Leopard geckos but every variety I saw had white bellies.

GroovyGeckos.com · Feb 5, 2008

No, please... no more names.

Seriously though, I do not think it is needed.

Actually from looking at all of the other morphs, it is easy to tell, that for the most part Leos do not display color on their bottoms. There are a few geckos, here and there, that will have some color on the underside, and it seems to be more of a birthmark, type of thing.

So, I`m having a hard time believing, that this could all change, because they do not seem to be able to display pigment on the bottom.

All black Leo = All black except for the bottom? I think so, but who knows.

Gregg M · Feb 5, 2008

All true melanistic reptiles have black ventrals even when the normal or wild type of the species have white or light colored ventrals...

Lottiz · Feb 5, 2008

And about Konrads pics, I just want to link to my pics, and you can se my Blackie with different backgrounds. I wonder how his adults will look against black background with using flash. Adult proven breeders are loosing intensity in colours, even black ones.

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?p=157778#post157778

Lottiz · Feb 5, 2008

Gregg M said:
All true melanistic reptiles have black ventrals even when the normal or wild type of the species have white or light colored ventrals...

That was my first thought...and I think you're right here. They are TOTALY black. And that means no white belly?

Greyscale_Geckos · Feb 5, 2008

Listen, those are examples from different species, mostly /snakes/. Leopard geckos aren't snakes. They might not be able to hold pigment in their bellies, snakes are built way differently.

Lottiz · Feb 5, 2008

Greyscale_Geckos said:
Listen, those are examples from different species, mostly /snakes/. Leopard geckos aren't snakes. They might not be able to hold pigment in their bellies, snakes are built way differently.

Yes, you can be right too, and here we are stuck. We got no proof, do we?

And what about true Leucist? Maybe Leopardgeckos can't be true Melanistic or Leucistic?

Greyscale_Geckos · Feb 5, 2008

Believe me, I'm not trying to be right. It's just that genetic things (even mutations or flukes like melanism) have varying characteristics from species to species.

Lottiz · Feb 5, 2008

I belive you

. But you can be right anyway

GroovyGeckos.com · Feb 5, 2008

All true melanistic reptiles have black ventrals even when the normal or wild type of the species have white or light colored ventrals...

Interesting, Gregg. I still don`t think that means they "have to" have it to be a true melanistic though. You know I respect your knowledge and opinions, but that definition I posted makes me think this is not the case for every melanistic animal. I am sure you can see how it is worded, and it does not say the animal is an all black one, all of the time. By that definition alone, we have allready seen "melanistic"(or abundistic) Leos. We will just have to find out, if they are a "true" melanistic which can be proven genetically.

Gregg M · Feb 6, 2008

Normal jeweled lacerta.

Melanistic jeweled lacerta.

Notice the huge difference???
No patter or color other than black even on the ventrals...
They eyes are also jet black only on the melanistic...

Lottiz · Feb 6, 2008

Oh, Lacerta is very beautiul as normal but the melanistic was just...such a beauty!

Brhaco · Feb 6, 2008

I think you'll find that, concerning the way the term is used technically, in the realm of professional herpetology, then melanistic animals are only those which are entirely black, and simple mendelian recessive. How Wikipedia defines it is not relevant.

In leopard geckos, the trait is just like true leucism-hasn't popped up yet, but probably will.

Gregg M · Feb 6, 2008

Brhaco said:
I think you'll find that, concerning the way the term is used technically, in the realm of professional herpetology, then melanistic animals are only those which are entirely black, and simple mendelian recessive. How Wikipedia defines it is not relevant.

In leopard geckos, the trait is just like true leucism-hasn't popped up yet, but probably will.

Brad,
Thats the exact point some are not understanding... They are taking the generic dictionary meaning and inserting it to fit their needs...

The funny thing is, is that the people producing these very dark leos are not even calling them melanistics and they fully understand why they shouldnt...

ataber · Feb 6, 2008

brad that was probably the best post out of the whole thread lol. i think melanistic and leucistic animals will pop up eventually. gregg that lacerta is pretty sweet lookin when lookin some stuff up last nite i found a melanistic water skink(i think) that was pretty nice looking.

p.s. gregg hows the reptile building?

Do Melanistic Leopard Geckos Exist?

Do Melanistic Leopard Geckos Exist?

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