A leopard morph gecko is a fantastic pet for any lizard or reptile lover. In the case of leopard geckos, morphs are variations of the same species that have been selectively selected for characteristics such as coloration, patterning, and eye shape. Leopard morph geckos stand out due to their vivid patterns and colors, surprising even people who previously thought they couldn’t love reptiles as pets.
Whether you’re looking to add a leopard morph gecko to your collection or are simply curious about this intriguing gecko, this article will tell you everything you need to know about the most common leopard gecko morphs and where to find them from reliable breeders and merchants. Expect to be “blown away” by the stunning variety of colors and patterns found on these rare animals.
Simply put, a “leopard gecko morph” is a leopard gecko that differs from the standard kind in some way, whether in size, coloring, pattern, or any other way. Mutations can occur at random and result in some morphs. Nonetheless, a great many novel leopard gecko variants have been generated through selective breeding, and this number is expanding.
This book will introduce you to a wide variety of leopard gecko morphs, both those now in existence and those that are in the works. It’s worth noting that leopard gecko morphs come in an almost infinite number of variants and combinations.
What does “Morph” actually mean?
A morph is one of several possible variants within a species. Because there are so many leopard gecko species, the word “morph” plays an important role in their name. Selected breeding has led to several of these variants.
The lizard’s morphs allow for a shift in:
- Size
- Color
- Pattern
Depending on the context, morphs can be either a change in genetic makeup that can be passed down from either or both parents. It’s there or it’s not.
Also. know Leopard Gecko – Appearance, Habitat, Diet, Feeding Guide, Care Sheet
Characteristics of being genetically related to the breeder; manifest in unpredictable ways. It’s possible, for instance, for geckos to share the trait of “Tangerine” despite their wildly different shades of orange. All progeny may not inherit the same traits.
Bloodline refers to an animal that has been developed by breeders that have prioritized a certain feature by using preexisting line-bred ancestors. Typically, there are several different lines of descent for a given characteristic. The Tangerine attribute is shared by the lineage and the Mandarin bloodline.
Morphs having many mutations, traits, or both are called “combinations.” The Raptor morph, for instance, is a hybrid of the Albino Tremper and the Eclipse morph.
How many different Leopard Geckos are there?
There is, however, no universally accepted estimate of the total number of types. Why? Unfortunately, there is no generally accepted definition of a leopard gecko morph. Color, pattern, eye shape, and size are just a few of the ways that leopard gecko morphs are sorted. However, not everyone agrees with such a classification. There are disagreements as to the exact number of leopard gecko morphs; estimates range from 50 to over 150.
Varieties of Leopard Geckos observed during their Metamorphoses
There are six distinct gecko morphs that can be identified by their size, coloration, or patterning:
- Larger-sized giants are a deliberate goal of breeding.
- Eye Morphs alter the appearance of the lizard’s eyes by changing their size, shape, and/or colour.
- Albinos’ skin is normally lighter because they lack the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for melanin production.
- When a blizzard hits, it shows up as a solid color with no discernible pattern.
- Persons with the melanistic phenotype might have either decreased melanin (known as a hypo) or more melanin (known as hyper) (i.e. hyper).
- Different kinds of stripes can be found down the length of the backs of striped morphs.
The Top 50 Transformations of Leopard Geckos
- False Dawn- Melanistic
- Snow Mack- Albino
- Fancy
- Tangerine
- Inhumanly Huge
- The Defining Characteristics of the Black Pearl-Melanistic
- Satan White Devil
- RAPTOR Eye
- Lavender
- Enigma
- A Frost of Lemon
- Eclipse Eye
- Bright Yellow Alert
- Male, Albino, Bell morph Albino
- Intense Snowstorm Blizzard
- Albino, Tremper
- Aberrant
- Patternless Blizzard
- Jungle
- Sunglow Melanistic
- Costume Accessory: A Spooky Halloween Mask
- Snow, Super Mack Albino
- The Defining Characteristics of Carrot-Tailed
- APTOR
- Dreamsicle
- Albino precipitation Albino
- Albinos are the color chocolate Albino
- Snow Jewel Albino
- Bandit
- Conspicuous Bars Striped
- That’s Incredible and Totally Unbelievable Melanistic
- Backward Stripe Striped
- Striped Red
- Blood
- Excessive Blackness Melanistic
- Hybino Melanistic
- This is a Marble Eye
- Nova
- Banana Sleet Blizzard
- Baldy Melanistic
- Red Stripe Cigarette Rain
- Very Xanthic
- Ghost Melanistic
- Colorful Rainbow Streaks Striped
- Parsnip Nose
- Color of the Eye: Blue-Amber Eye
- Crossed Eyes Eye
- Pattern of Lavender Spots- Striped
- Supergiant Godzilla Giant
How did all these Leopard Geckos change their spots?
Having perused the aforementioned sample list of leopard gecko morphs, you may be left wondering at the origins of such a wide range of variety. To produce a new morph, breeders first mated common leopard geckos with those who already possessed the desired genetic features. Both dominant and recessive forms of the underlying genes are at play here. For several decades, breeders of reptiles have been actively creating new varieties.
Conclusion
All these forms belong to the same species, yet they look very different from one another. It’s all a matter of taste; there’s no one “best” morph among them. Regardless of which morph you choose, these geckos have wonderful personalities and make fantastic pets. Get a habitat ready, decide on a leopard gecko’s aesthetic, and prepare for years of pleasure.
