To the best of the authors
knowledge, the first hypo-melanistic boas came into the country from Panama.
These boas where referred to as Orange-tails, because of the intense orange on
their tail blotches. As a result of both line-breeding and out-breeding to
lighter common Colombian boas, several phases have been established. Salmon
phase hypos tend to have a darker rose-like pigmentation. Super Salmons, which
are a product of breeding a salmon to a salmon, tend to be very light in
overall color with very little black scaling. While hypo-melanistic boas lack
black pigment they are not albinos. They lack melanin to certain degrees.
There are hypo-melanistic boas born with nearly no black scaling but they
still carry the black pigment. This trait has been proven co-dominant.
ORANGE-TAIL
Photos compliments of: Michael Ball
SALMON PHASE
Photos compliments of: C. Romine and Mike Wilbanks
Article compliments of: J. McCullah
