Leopard Gecko Morph
In the wild,
Leopard geckos are normally pale yellow with dark black spots all over
their body. Many pet owners find unusual coloration and traits
attractive and desirable therefore dozens of Leopard gecko morphs have
been bred. A morph is a genetically modified type of Leopard gecko that
has a different physical appearance than the majority of geckos in the
wild. Many morphs are bred by selecting potential parents
based on their unique characteristics and their potential to produce
offspring with unique colors. Alternatively, a morph can be bred in a
laboratory setting. Morphs are frequently given names that
are descriptive of what they look like.
Among pet owners, the demand for unique morphs is continually
increasing. This demand along with the time, energy and costs
associated with producing morphs have contributed to morphs being more
expensive. In addition, a pet owner should be well informed about what
it takes to provide for the needs of a particular morph.
In the desert, a wild Leopard geckos' color helps camouflage it from
potential predators. A morph, on the other hand, would be at a
disadvantage in a desert environment. This is due to the fact that
morphs can vary wildly in their appearance. Such variations might be
pleasing to look at but in the wild would most likely not be beneficial
to the reptile. Some morphs have a greenish color. Some are spotted
with purple, while others are albino with no spots. You can also find
morphs that have black spots that appear faded. In fact, new types of
morphs are continually being bred.
Some morphs even have stripes instead of spots. The spots have been
replaced by stripes and the stripes themselves can be any number of
colors. There are still others that not only have stripes; they have
brightly colored skin whereas naturally occurring leopard geckos have
pale yellow skin.
It is interesting to note that sometimes when trying to produce morphs,
breeders end up with geckos with very striking eye coloration. You can
now find morphs with eyes that have pink pupils. Some reptiles might
have eyes that range in color from red to almost colorless.
The tail of a morph can itself be of a different color. For instance,
in some tangerine colored morphs you might find that some have tails
that are covered in spots but their body does not have any spots. There
are still others that will have stripes or banding on their tail. Such
lizards may or may not have stripes or banding on their body. The range
of colors, spots, stripes and general appearance of morphs can be quite
astounding.
In the wild, Leopard geckos are normally a pale yellow with dark black
spots all over their body. There are dozens of Leopard gecko morphs
with many color variations and breeders are constantly coming up with
new morphs.
