Axanthic
Type: Recessive
Aliases: Axanthism, Genotype X
Issues: N/A
First Produced In: Unknown
Availability: Higher
Last Updated: 2022-12-21
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About
Axanthic is a crested gecko that is unable to create yellow pigment. Yellow pigment usually makes the tails of a gecko cream colour. Geckos such as this display only black, blue, white, grey and silver colouring. [1]
This is where the Xanthophore layer is being affected, the animal is lacking yellow and/or red pigmentation and in some cases completely lack xanthophores. [2]
History
This trait was first discovered in the UK and later purchased by US breeder Brian Butler at Altitude Exotics. [3]
Appearance
Body
These animals are usually Black and White or high in brown pigmentation and melanin is still produced. [4]
Controversy
The odds of a single mutation occurring are staggering. To have multiple axanthic lines show up is such a short time period, shortly after the UK line was introduced, is not necessarily a coincidence. The gene is recessive and so Hets were likely distributed before the hobby knew what they were. This is most likely why the different lines of this trait appear to be compatable. There were three lines that all appeared within a short time frame, with many since… they are AE, MSL, and Obscurial. We must state that the MSL line has an originating animal that may go back much further than any other documented het axanthic . Eddie Shelton mentioned that it traces back 15 years. Some slight differences have been noted with each line… some having slight yellowish or red coloration. If you look at other axanthic species you will notice that not all xanthophores are eliminated and some subtle coloration may sometimes remain. [5]
Proven Lines
Altitude Exotics, Wild Things Exotics, Lizard Wizard, Manatee Suncoast, Obscurial
Related Traits
No known related traits
Combos
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Base colors
One of the only base colors unaffected is Black , while Yellow and Red seem to produce brown and red-tinged tones.[6] -
Harlequin Axanthic
Retains paper white harlequin pattern coloration on a black to brown base color. It has been noted that much of the white faded, but as selective breeding continues we are seeing more white pattern holding onto these animals.[7] -
Hypo Axanthic
This is still a WIP but it appears the hypo effect this morph where it produces a silver light colored base axanthics. Although much evidence has been seen in the hobby Tom is currently working this project to prove out every base and hypo contribution to note the differences if any in the phenotype combos.[8] -
Pinstripe Axanthic
Paper-white pinstripe coloration was noted early on and was the strongest expression of WP on axanthics. The level of stacking in pins and WP are most likely the cause.[9] -
Phantom Axanthic
Creates a very dark animal as phantom also disrupts white pigment, this means we primarily are left with a black to brown colored phantom, but the usual areas of white pattern are still unaffected and remain in this combo.[10] -
Lilly White Axanthic
Lilly contributes white pigment and produces a greater expression of white coloration on axanthics. Here you can see a good example of some yellow coloration from the lilly still coming through from xanthophore-producing pigment granules.[^11]
