morphs - mutations - traits - anomalies - etc
Hypomelanistic
Hypomelanistic
Hypomelanistic
The hypomelanistic (hypo) gene creates a reduction in dark pigment. Hypo dragons are lighter in color. They have all clear nails, which is the distinguishing trait of a hypomelanistic dragon.
Translucent
Hypomelanistic
Hypomelanistic
Translucent (trans) dragons have what's commonly referred to as a "gummy" appearance. Their skin has a look pf translucency. Depending on the strength of expression, some trans dragons will have blue colored bellies and a gummy look to their beards. Some (not all) trans dragons have solid black eyes. A trans dragon doesn't "have" to have solid black eyes.
Leatherback
Hypomelanistic
Leatherback
Leatherbacks are smoother in appearance compared to normal scale dragons. There are different types of leatherbacks, including recessive, Italian, and American.
Silkback
Regular Scale
Leatherback
Silkbacks are produced by pairing leather x leather. Note that reputable breeders won't breed for silks, due to the special care they require. However, oftentimes a pairing is too perfect genetically to pass up, and silks will result. Silks are scaleless but can form pseudoscales. Not all silks form them.
Regular Scale
Regular Scale
Regular Scale
Regular scale dragons, also called normal scale dragons, are the "spikey" dragons. Note that normal and normal scale are incorrectly interchanged often. A dragon can be a normal scale dragon and still have other visual genetics, such as hypo, trans, witblits, etc. Being a normal scale dragon doesn't automatically mean the dragon is a normal (without other genetics) dragon.
Zero
Regular Scale
Regular Scale
The zero gene masks pattern. Zeros are one of three patternless morphs. Zeros also cannot hold color. The "color" ranges from grey to white, to a light lavender color if the dragon is a hypo trans zero. Zeros that aren't visual hypo are the grey zeros that you commonly see (they can carry hypo as a het), and the white dragons are hypo zeros. Note that a zero can have black eyes without being trans.
Note that there is NO such thing as a "black" dragon. When breeders show you this, they're showing you a trans zero that will lighten with age as it grows. Black vitticeps do NOT exist. Never believe a breeder who tells you that a visual or het trans zero will stay dark or black - they most certainly will not. Any breeder who tells you a trans zero may stay black or dark does not understand trans zero genetics, plain and simple.
Witblits
Witblits
Witblits
A witblits dragon is a patternless dragon that has the capability of holding color. Most witblits colors range from greys to whites, to yellows, light brown colors, and oranges. Through selective breeding, we're starting to also see some really nice reds with wits.
Wero
Witblits
Witblits
A wero is one of the newer morphs. Wero's are a combination of a visual witblits and a visual zero. The marbling (dark areas) on a high expression wero are created by the zero gene and the "plain" non-marbled areas are created by the witblits gene. Note that a wero can have black eyes without being trans. Not all weros have solid black eyes.
Dunner
Witblits
Paradox
A dunner is a specific scale mutation. Dunners have scales that go in all directions and not symmetrical patterns. The multi-direction of the scales is apparent on the dragon's beard as well. Dunners also have circles on their stomachs as opposed to the normal oval markings we generally see on a dragon's stomach (commonly referred to as "stress marks").
Paradox
Color & pattern are not morphs!
Paradox
Paradox is not a morph, they're an anomaly. A paradox gene cannot be carried as a het. It is a visual genetic. A dragon is either paradox or is not paradox. Certain genes are known to play a role in paradox creation but you can't breed specifically for paradox, as its a random occurrence even though certain genes and lines increase the chances of success. Some of the most beautiful dragons we see are paradoxes. High-expression paradoxes are hatched looking like typical dragons and then lose their color and their pattern fades. They usually regain color in patches. This specific paradox remained white and has not regained any color, making him an unusual paradox even within a paradox being unique of itself. See this particular paradox's progression here.
Phantom Stripe
Color & pattern are not morphs!
Color & pattern are not morphs!
A Phantom Stripe is a specific pattern trait. Phantom stripe dragons are a line of dragons created by Phantom Dragons. The line has been selectively bred over the years to create a perfect striped dragon. Phantom stripe dragons are known for their perfect stripes and also for their overall health, strength, and solid growth. If you see a breeder selling a dragon as a phantom stripe that they produced (and not produced by Phantom Dragons), its really a color stripe dragon and they're merely trying to cash in on the Phantom Dragons line. Phantom Dragons has put years of time, resources, and dedication into the phantom stripe line.
Color & pattern are not morphs!
Color & pattern are not morphs!
Color & pattern are not morphs!
There seems to be some confusion, even among so-called "reputable" breeders lately, who interchange color with morph. "Citrus" is not a morph, and neither is "polar." Don't let fancy jargon or breeders who are unsure of morphs in terms of genetics sway you. This dragon, for instance, is a hypo leatherback (morph) that is yellow in color (separate from morph). Its a hypo leatherback - nothing more, nothing less. Genetic stripe, color stripe, rainbow, citrus, etc are not morphs. They're pattern traits (as with stripes) or colors ("citrus" which really just means any dragon showing yellow or orange colors).