Project Lilac
What is project Lilac?
The Lilac Project is a colour mutation/morph Sonoran Exotics has been working on for the last 5 years. Think of it as hypomelanism but not hypomelanism. We say it in hypotheticals as we don't believe it is a genetic colour mutation like hypomelanism but we have been selectively breeding lighter purple-ish coloured cresties to achieve a lilac like base colour.
Lavender vs Lilac
By Pangea Reptiles definition of a lavender, "When the gecko is unfired or fired down, the base color will have a blue-ish to purple hue. Fired up, this base color will turn a near black and can still show a faint blue hue." Example below.
At Sonoran Exotics we are trying to achieve a base colour that will fire up a true lavender/Lilac colour and fire down white/cream. There has been many debates and arguments about the lavender colour trait and we are seeking to change the narrative with our lilac project.
Hajin at Sonoran Exotics
Hypomelanism
n., [ˈhaɪ.poʊ ˈmɛl əˌnɪz əm]
Definition: A condition in which an organism has relatively less melanin and hence, less pigmentation
Hypomelanism is a condition of melanin deficiency where the production/synthesis process of melanin in the body is below the optimum. This is characterized by reduced pigmentation when we compare it to that in the wild-type phenotype.
Picture taken from Google
So far from what we have learned about our project is that only 10% of offspring have shown this visual Lilac colour that our main project male Pipi potentially carries. We also have recently added another male from LAC herps lavender collection that we believe will give us lilac offspring as well as we have taken into account of their siblings and roughly 50% of his direct siblings show visual of this colour trait.
Is Lilac a form of hypo?
At Sonoran Exotics we believe our lilac project is a fluke, we have not had any findings of this colour trait being that of hypomelanism. Hopefully in our work and research to establish our lilac line we can have some more information about the mutation that may be at work here. To be continued!
