scales in a variegated
arrangement. One of the
most striking character-
istics is the jet black
eyes, which are a result
of the standard orange
pigment being removed
from the iris. I discov-
ered this morph myself
in a line of Kimberley
blue-tongues from a normal wild type pairing. By itself,
this mutation is capable of producing animals that vary
from just moderately attractive through to quite
stunning, but in combination with other morphs (as we
will discuss later), the results are nothing short of
astonishing. Of further note is that a second line of
Black Eyed Anery blueys have since been proven by
Beck Drescher in animals from the Darwin locality; both
have what appears to be a straightforward recessive
mode of inheritance.
yellows. This morph is
best described as a T+
albino (tyrosinase-
positive albino) meaning
that, in simple terms,
instead of melanin being
totally removed, as in the
case of standard albinos
(T- or tyrosinase-negative
albinism), it is only
partially inhibited, leaving lavender hues in place of all
black colouration. After acquiring this small group of
animals I have been fortunate enough to replicate them
via some outbreeding for the first time in this current
‘The beautiful ‘Rainbow’
line is punctuated with
amazing lavenders and
fluoro yellows.’
Dave Mitchell of Rockhampton is responsible for the
fifth bluey morph, producing an absolutely beautiful
‘Rainbow’ line of Darwin Northern Blue-tongues which
are punctuated with amazing lavenders and fluoro
Previous page: the whole process kicked off nearly ten
years ago, with the albino Eastern Blue-tongue.
Left: from bottom; melanistic, albino and ‘White’
Northern.
Above: the ‘Magnificent Seven’ proven morphs!
From left to right: genetic reduced pattern, ‘Super
Striped’ Alpine Blotched Blue-tongue; ’Rainbow’ (T+
albino); ‘Black Eyed Anery’; melanistic; albino; ‘White’
Northern.
All images by Joe Ball.