Some aspects of an animal are determined by their environment, their experiences, their diet, or even accidents (perhaps during development) but many are determined by their genes.

With few exceptions, genes are found in pairs, with one member of each pair inherited from mom and the other from dad. There are a great number of different genes doing a great number of different things. Every now and then a mutation happens that changes what one of those genes does in such a way as to make a different (“mutant”) looking animal. With the huge number of ball pythons exported from their native Africa each year (as many as 150,000 some years) we have had the opportunity to discover quite a variety of mutant genes. We then breed these odd looking animals in captivity to confirm if the odd appearance is genetically reproducible and if so how it works and how it might combine with other mutant genes.

A few basic terms are helpful to describe the possible inheritance of an unusual ball python appearance:

Phenotype: The appearance type of an animal. Ball python phenotypes include normal/wild type (which can vary a lot), albino, pastel, super pastel, spider, and many many more. The phenotype doesn’t always tell you about an animal’s genes and in some cases some recognized phenotypes might not even have a genetic cause. For example, the recognizable classic jungle appearance might be caused by incubation environment — or it might be complex genetics we just haven’t figured out yet.

Genotype: The gene type of an animal with respect to one or more known genes. Remember that genes come in pairs (except for gender genes of the mismatched sex – females in snakes). One copy of each gene comes from each parent. We really only know ball python genes with respect to the mutations we have identified so far. As far as we know, there are only two versions of the gene at the location we refer to as the “albino locus” – albino mutant and normal for the albino gene (without the albino mutation). Depending on which version of this gene a baby ball python gets from each of it’s parents it has three possible genotypes for the albino locus – homozygous normal (two normal for albino copies), heterozygous albino (one normal and one albino mutant copy of the gene), or homozygous mutant (an albino mutant copy of the gene from each parent).

Terms-A

• Ambient – Of or relating to the general immediate surroundings, like “ambient temperature”.
• Albino – A lack of pigment in the skin (Blood color causes pinkness).
• Anterior – Pertains to the front or head end.
• Aquatic – Lives in the water.
• Aquarium – Commonly transparent tank of water in which fish or other creatures are kept.
• Arboreal – That which inhabits trees or above ground bushes.
• Autotomy – The deliberate detachment or shedding of a body part in animals, typically in defense.
• Avidin – A biotin binding protein produced in the oviducts of  birds, reptiles and amphibians which is deposited in the whites of their eggs.

B

• Basking – An often necessary behavior exhibited by ectothermic animals, in which the animal exposes itself to a source of heat, in order to raise or regulate its temperature.
• Boid  – Members of the Boidae family, boa constrictors.
• Breeding – Process of reproduction in animals.
• Browse – Young twigs, leaves, shoots, and other forms of soft vegetation fit for animal consumption.
• Brumation – The reptilian equivalent of hibernation, which is a state of inactivity in animals, often brought on by the changing seasons.

C

• Cage – Containment unit.
• Carapace – The upper section of a bony or hard shell that cloaks an animal in parts or entirety, typically seen on chelonians (turtles, terrapins, tortoises).
• Carnivore – Animal who exclusively eats meat, often other animals such as rats, mice, and rabbits.
• Casque – The head or crest of a reptile.
• CB – Short for “Captive Bred”.
• Chelonian – Family of animals consisting of turtles, terrapins, and tortoises.
• Chronic – Typically refers to an illness that persists for a long time or constantly recurs.
• CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
• Cloaca – The posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, reproductive, and urinary tracts of certain species.
• Clutch – A group of eggs that is laid in the same place at the same time (or nearly so), and will hatch around the same time.
• Colic – A form of pain which starts and stops abruptly.
• Crepuscular – Primarily active during twilight hours (sunrise and sunset).

D

• Debilitated – Having greatly decreased levels of energy and strength.
• Dehydration – A lack of adequate water quantities within the body.
• Dewlap – The flap of skin located on the throat of several lizards, like water dragons and anoles.
• Dichromatism – Color differences between individuals of the same species.
• Diurnal – Opposite of ‘Nocturnal’, meaning active during the day.
• Dorsal – Pertains to the back or upper surface.

E

• Ectothermic – An animal whose body temperature is dependant on its external, surrounding environment.
• Ecology – The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
• Egg Binding – A condition in birds and reptiles in which the female is unable to lay a fully developed or partially developed egg.
• Enclosure – An area ‘enclosed’ or sealed off artificially or naturally, often used to refer to reptile’s environments, while in captivity.
• Endoparasite – A parasite that inhabits its host internally, such as a heartworm.
• Enzyme – A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.

F

• Folivore – That which feeds chiefly on leaves.
• Fossorial – Animal that burrows or digs.
• Fungus – A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms.

G

• Gastrointestinal – Having to do with the stomach or intestines.
• Genetic – Of or relating to genes or heredity.
• Genus – A grouping by kind of class. Multiple like species make a genus.
• Gestation – The period of time between mating and the birth of the young.
• Gravid – A female currently carrying eggs or embryos (pregnant).
• Gut-loading – The process by which an animal’s prey is filled with various necessary vitamins and minerals, prior to consumption.

H

• Habitat – Home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
• Hatchling – A young reptile that has recently emerged from the egg.
• Het/Heterozygous – Animal carries a gene but does not display it visually. The two genes in a gene pair are not the same.
• Hereditary – That which is transmitted throughout generations, from parent to offspring.
• Herbivore – Animal that solely consumes various forms of vegetation.
• Herptile (Herp) – A word that collectively refers to both reptiles and amphibians.
• Herpetology – The study of reptiles and amphibians.
• Homozygous – Animal carries a gene and displays it visually. The two genes in a gene pair are the same.
• Husbandry – the care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals.
• Hybrid – A crossbred animal, the offspring of two different species.
• Hydration – The process of providing adequate liquid to the body.

I

• Incubation – The maintenance of an infant, especially a premature infant (egg), in an environment of controlled temperature, humidity, and oxygen concentration in order to provide optimal conditions for growth and development.
• Insectivore – An animal which feeds chiefly on insects.

J

• Jacobson’s Organ – An organ for detecting odor located in the roof of the mouth. The tongue delivers the odor, the nostrils connect to the lung or lungs.
• Juvenile – A young animal, older than a hatchling but not adult.

K

• Keel – A ridge down the center of a scale.
• Keratin – The hard protein that makes up hair, fingernails, claws, horns, and scales.

L

• Laceration – A cut or tear in the skin.
• Lethargy – Lack of energy.
• Longevity – Expected lifespan.

M

• Melanism – Unusual darkening of body tissues caused by excessive production of melanin (Opposite of albinism).
• (MBD) Metabolic Bone Disease – A skeletal disorder caused by a calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 deficiency.
• Metabolism – The set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the cells of living organisms.
• Monogamy – A condition in which reptiles have a single mate throughout the breeding season.
• Morph – Genetic Mutation, involving color pigments. In essence, a “paint job”
• Musk – A secretion with a powerful odor.
• Mycosis – Fungal infection.

N

• Neurological – Refers to the nerves and nervous system.
• Neurotoxin – Poison that affects the nervous system.
• Nocturnal – Opposite of “Diurnal”, active at night.
• Nutrient – The beneficial components of food, which are classified as: Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, waters, vitamins and mineral.
• Nutritional Deficiency- An insufficient supply of nutrients.

O

• Omnivore – That which feeds on a combination of plants and other animals or insects.
• Organ – In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function.
• Oviparous – An animal that lays unhatched eggs.
• Ovoviviparous – An animal who holds the eggs inside its body until they hatch and live young are delivered.

P

• Parasite – Any living organism that lives inside, with, or close to another living creature (host) and utilizes the host as a source of food or shelter.
• Parietal Eye – A photoreceptive organ located on the top of the head of some animals.
• Photobiosynthesis – The biological synthesis of vitamin D3 after exposure to UV light which takes place in the malpighian layer of the skin.
• Piscivore – An animal that feeds chiefly on fish.
• Plastron – The nearly flat part of the shell structure of a chelonian (otherwise called belly).
• Prehensile Tail – Capable of grasping or wrapping with the tail.
• Probing/Popping – A technique used when sexing snakes and reptiles.

R

• Race – Subspecies, with varying physical characteristics.
• Reptile – A cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class (Reptilia) that includes Testudines, Sphenodontia, Squamata, and Crocodilia.
• Respiratory – Of, relating to, or affecting respiration, that is, breathing.
• Rickets – A nutritional disorder of young animals caused by a lack of phosphorus or vitamin D, causing malformation of bones and lameness.

S

• Salmonellosis – Infection with Salmonella bacteria.
• Scurvy – a disease caused by lack of vitamin C.
• Scute – An external bony or horny plate or scale, covering the skin of some reptiles, such as the shell of a reptile.
• Semi-Aquatic – Ability to live on both land and water.
• Semi-Arboreal – Animal that frequents trees or bushes, but completely arboreal. Several members of Morelia are great examples.
• Species – One or more animals which, scientifically, closely resemble one another.
• Substrate – The material used to cover the bottom of an animal’s enclosure. Examples include newspaper, sand, peat moss, potting soil, wood shavings, or cypress mulch.
• Supplement – A preparation or substance intended to enrich a diet and provide nutrients.

T

• Tarsal Spur – A spur found on the back of some lizards’ rear feet, used for breeding.
• Temperature – The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance, object, or environment.
• Terrestrial – That which lives on the ground.
• Terrarium – A vivarium used for keeping smaller animals, housing natural plants, etc.
• Thermo-regulate – Regulate one’s body temperature, per various environmental conditions
• Thermostat – Device used to regulate temperature in the environment.
• Tympanum – The external eardrum.

U

• (UV) Ultraviolet Radiation – Light energy radiating from the sun. UVB is essential for the metabolism of vitamin D, D3, and calcium in some reptile species.
• (UTH) Under-tank Heater – A heating device used to produce a temperature gradient within a vivarium.

V

• Venom – A toxin produced by a reptile.
• Vent – (See Cloaca)
• Ventral – Referring to the underside of an animal.
• Vivarium – Latin word for “place of life”. It’s an enclosed area, used for keeping and raising animals or plants.

W

• (WC) Wild Caught – An animal which is directly captured from the wild.