Quote:
Originally posted by Rich Z
Firstly, I assume you have read Dr. Bechtel's book Reptile and Amphibian Variants, so please review the section on Chromatophore Biology, please.
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Actually, I'm eternally grateful to Dr Bechtel for identifying Motley.
I was thinking about this today, and not to put anyone down, but I think if he hadn't done so, I might instead be sitting here trying to convince people that
Motley is a pattern trait. It would probably have been discovered eventually, and named something like "Coastal Hypo" (because of the places it was commonly found) and would have been considered a "color" trait.
I think this is not so hard to believe because every argument that has been put forth against "diffused" as a pattern trait is applicable to Motley.
- It's "too variable."
- It sometimes seems to have no effect beyond the belly.
- It can me imitated by other snakes that don't have the gene.
- There is no "proven" mechanism.
- It also appears to have some effect on coloration.
If any of these arguments are to be applied to the "diffused pattern trait" then they also must be applied to Motley.