is there a difference between a morph or an intergrade

[garterguy]

i was wondering if there was a difference between the 2 thx.

[Herpkingdom]

Yes.

A morph is a color/pattern variation of a given species or subspecies, while an intergrade is a crossbreeding of two different species or subspecies.

Example Morph: Albino Cornsnake
Example Intergrade: Jungle Corn (cross between a kingsnake and a corn snake)


Jim

[CyberGhost]

Speaking on the subject does anyone know if it would be possible to breed a black rat to a bull snake to create what I would like to be a black bull snake? Not that I'm going to run out and do it I just wanna know so in the future I could possibly make this a breeding project.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Yes, Ratsnakes and bullsnakes can interbreed.. There's a post on hybrids I explained that on.
Also, intergrades are natural occuring. Hybrids are a man made perception.
Xain

[CyberGhost]

How do you make color morphs? I have often wondered how people get certain color morphs. Is it that it a mutation like albino that they breed to another mutation to get the genes and then breed from there? Or something to that effect.

[Jeff Hathaway]

Intergrades are naturally occurring, and between subspecies. Subspecific interbreedings, i.e. black and yellow ratsnakes to create 'greenish' rats, do not produce hybrids.

Hybrids are between species. Generally not naturally occurring, though there are certainly exceptions.

Although morph generally refers to colour/ pattern variation in the pet trade, it could refer to any significant variation within the species. For example, a size variation- the dwarf morph, or a giant morph, found in a restricted locality like an island.

Morphs are not 'made' in the strictest sense. A naturally (though perhaps within the context of captivity) occurring mutation creates a variation that is different but still functional (you don't see any 'spineless' morphs of vertebrates). Selective breeding is done to produce more of these mutations, and combine them with other mutations within the same specimens to create new combinations (i.e. amelanistic striped corns).

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Ssnakes!!

[reverendsterlin]

serpwidget does a good job with the basic to intermediate explanations on both morphs http://www.serpwidgets.com/cornsnakes/Morphs/morphs.html and genetics http://www.serpwidgets.com/cornsnakes/Genetics/genetics.html

[CyberGhost]

You should be a genenetic teahcer!!!