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VRHD
Winter Phase vs Summer Phase
Adults. When this gene(s) began to reveal
its hand early on and it was apparent there would be
at least two distinct color phases, I was curious to
see which, if any, color phase collectors would lean
towards. So far there seems to be a roughly 50:50
split but this is probably not entirely reliable as
most folks feel that they need both eventually, no
matter their initial preference. This Winter Phase has
an interesting layout where a brilliant white reverse
stripe flows tastefully into split blotches
mid-dorsally. The thin edges of dark pigment outlining
the reverse stripe and scale ridges on the anterior
portion of the body elevates an already gorgeous white
snake into the stratosphere. As with many Winter Phase
VRHDs, the tail has a hint of creamy yellow which the
camera never adequately captures. The Summer Phase, by
contrast, has a very abbreviated stripe, which
barely makes it though the nuchal area where, without
any intermediate transition, joins a faded but more or
less normal deppei pattern. |