Common Name: Columbian Boa constrictor Scientific Name: Boa constrictor imperator Morph: Anerythristic (type I) Genetics: Simple recessive color mutation First Produced by: Unknown

Anerythristic boas are also known by some as black and white boas. Anerythristics lack red pigment, not yellow pigment which would make the animal axanthic. Many anerythristics are born with black or charcoal saddles and a silvery to almost white body color. The characteristic red tail is replaced with varying degrees of black, charcoal and lavender. As with any other boa, anerythristics can display a clean base body color to a very peppered/hyper-melanistic look. As many anerythristics age, the animals tend to yellow-out. This makes the animal appear in certain circumstances to be brown, or what some call buck skin colored. To my knowledge, the first anerythristic boa imported and produced is unknown. What I do know is that there are many boas that are imported every year that are anerythristic, or at least are being marketed as such. It makes sense that there could be a large number of anerythristics thriving in the wild, as this gene does not pose such a disadvantage to the snake as say the albino gene does. Personally, I really like anerythristic snakes, but as a general rule, the market likes to make boas brighter, not lighter.

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