Enlighten me about lessers

[AbsoluteApril]

I really enjoy the look of the mojave and lesser morphs, so in trying to educate myself about ball python morphs I've run into a stumbling block. I was eyeing a lesser platinum, when I search on this it seems that it is a simple lesser which is a co-dom morph. What is the 'platinum' part? Is it just describing a specific line?

Also, If I understand correctly, a butter is a lesser but just a specific line. And two lessers make a white snake? Does a mojave x lesser also make a white snake?

So many questions!

thanks

 

[hhmoore]

The first lesser came from a platinum - it was similar in pattern, but didn't have the platinum coloring....so it was called a lesser platinum. It is widely shortened to "lesser", in part, to clearly differentiate it from the platinum (and, in part, because people are inherently lazy and don't want to use the full name ).
Platinums are now often called by the nickname of the founding animal, which became known as the Platty Daddy.

A homozygous lesser is a blue eyed leucistic...and generally one of the whiter forms.
(and yes, mojave x lesser also makes a BEL)

 

[hhmoore]

http://ralphdavisreptiles.com/matrix/traits/platinum.asp
http://ralphdavisreptiles.com/matrix/traits/lesser_platinum.asp

 

[AbsoluteApril]

so if platinum is in fact it's own seperate morph, then a lesser platinum in theory should be displaying both morphs but in fact is only a lesser and the name is just stupid and confusing?


darn BP morphs, sheesh

 

[AbsoluteApril]

oh and if anyone wants to add photos of their lessers/lesser platinums to this thread, I won't mind one bit

 

[radera5]

I think Butters and Lessers are actually different. They look very similar but come from two different wild caught's.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong here.

This might help you out also...
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287359&highlight=Lesser+information

 

[hhmoore]

so if platinum is in fact it's own seperate morph, then a lesser platinum in theory should be displaying both morphs but in fact is only a lesser and the name is just stupid and confusing?


darn BP morphs, sheesh

The platinum is produced by combining a lesser and a hidden gene. The lesser platinum looks like a platinum, without the very light coloration.

Here is a picture of one of my lesser females (I have never taken a picture of the other one, because I suck...but neither of them have spots )

 

[AbsoluteApril]

thank you both for the links, I am reading now

 

[hhmoore]

A couple quick shots of the other girl. I still suck, because the lighting is terrible; so these shots are not accurate of her coloring. (The background is WHITE, lol)

 

[snakesRkewl]

AbsoluteApril
oh and if anyone wants to add photos of their lessers/lesser platinums to this thread, I won't mind one bit

Saving Grace Reptiles line lesser female at 200ish grams

Same lesser female at 2000+ grams

2000 gram VPI butter female

VPI Lesser Male

 

[TheFragginDragon]

I love my Lesser girl. Here's Delilah from last season building eggs.

 

[R. Eventide]

Yeah, until someone crosses a Butter with a hidden-gene Platinum snake and gets a Platinum, Butters and Lessers are two different morphs in my book.

There are several snakes in the blue-eyed leucistic complex: Mojave, Lesser Platinum, Mocha, Butter, Russo. Any combination of these morphs will produce a BEL. I usually put Phantoms in the BEL complex list, but the main difference there is that the Super Phantom isn't a BEL. It's close, but it still has clear patterning.

There are a few minor caveats: Super Mojaves usually have a grey head and can possibly have faint patterning. Super Russos are called White Diamonds because they are supposedly the most clean, white BELs out there. I haven't actually seen one to compare with other BELs, but that seems to be the general consensus.

I have two Lessers: Iridium (the snake in my side pic) and his daughter, Rhodium:

 

[snakesRkewl]

Yeah, until someone crosses a Butter with a hidden-gene Platinum snake and gets a Platinum, Butters and Lessers are two different morphs in my book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfQQdmSQWqc

 

[MrBig]

Thanks for the link Jerry. When I read that I said they did make a Butter daddy, and you saved some leg work.

 

[snakesRkewl]

Thanks for the link Jerry. When I read that I said they did make a Butter daddy, and you saved some leg work.

Your welcome Mike,
My personal opinion is they are different lines of the same snake, compatible in every way, but look slightly different

 

[MrBig]

I agree Jerry, but I've seen examples of Lessers that looked like prime examples of butters and vice versa. I'm not sure if this is because of mislabeling/misunderstanding, or at times misrepresentation to make a few more dollars, or simply an example of how closely linked these mutations really are. I agree that they are on the same gene and I think the lesser was influenced by the platinum gene while the butter received a differant influence from the snake that had the original mutation in that line. Resulting in similiar looks but unique features that will continue to be blurred by further outbreeding and inbreeding amonst the lines and into differant morphs.

 

[snakemansnakes]

Here is a 2011 lesser platinum. She has a nice reduced pattern.

 

[rabernet]

Well, since you asked nicely, April Ino really...you twisted my arm!) - here are pictures of my male and female - but are they butter or lesser? I'm just interested in what people think just from the pictures. Some of you may already know from pictures I've posted in the past.

It's my personal opinion that butters and lessers are the same, and have the same variation as pastels.

My male:

My female:

Together for contrast:

 

[snakesRkewl]

Lesser on the outside, butter in the middle, did I win one?

lol

 

[hhmoore]

I'll play this game....

Is this a lesser??
(same bad lighting as the last pics I posted in this thread - on the same white background)