VRHD - Winter Phase Pigmentation VRHD are animals that can be appreciated at normal life size scale and at close up macro scale. If one takes the time to examine one of these magnificent animals closely in good natural light they will find some delightful surprises. This macro shot of a dorsal blotch was taken from a Winter Phase VRHD, on the lower body before the tail where the white usually begins to pick up a bit of pale yellow. Areas that would be black on a normal P.d.deppei occur as different shades of purple on the VRHD. The stripping away of a dark pigment layer in the VRHD allows us to actually see how the purple pigment is deposited at the microscopic level. The pigment is deposited in dendritic patterns reminiscent of those seen in certain translucent agates.