In What Colours Do They Come In:
The dragons are predominantly grey in colour with some variation towards
orange, fawn, brown and black. These variations are largely dependant on locality,
temperature, and in the case of the central and eastern bearded dragons, selective
breeding. Bearded dragons regulate their body temperature through subtle changes in shades
of colour, from light to dark ; becoming darker in cooler weather and vice-versa. Colour
change can also depend on emotional state, with the colours becoming more obvious when
startled or in an aggressive posture. Selective breeding, especially amongst United States
based herpetologists, has influenced colour variation to such an extent that distinctive
oranges, blues, reds, apricot and tiger stripes are apparent in the central bearded
dragons.
In case you cannot trace the lineage of your dragons, it is always
safer to breed dragons of different colours together (i.e. a dragon showing red coloration
to one showing gold, or orange x normal, instead of red x red). It is more exciting when
you get a bunch of surprises with each group of hatchlings, instead of a bunch of
look-alikes!
Some of the many Bearded Dragon Morphs are
detailed below:
| Picture |
Morph |
Details |
 |
Sandfire Dragons |
Sandfire™ dragons were our
first attempt at selective breeding. Of the natural red/gold hatchlings originally held
back for breeding stock, 4% developed into the brilliant and beautiful red/orange lizards.
|
 |
Blood Dragons |
Blood Dragons. Rich red colour is
evident from the start. |
 |
German Giants |
German bloodlines have proven to be
the hardiest and fastest growing bearded dragons that we have worked with. Great fertility
and large clutches (we had one clutch of 68 eggs) make this lineage a great addition to
any breeding colony |
 |
Salmons |
Salmons are 2nd generation
offspring from our original Snow x Sandfire breedings. Animals range from pink to orange,
many with lavender markings, often patternless as adults |
 |
Sunburst |
80%-90% yellow with orange and red
patterns on head and body. Tail is yellow/orange banded. A Dragon's Den original-
Spectacular! |
 |
Leucistic |
leucistic bloodline these are solid
white from day 1. Hatchlings are white, juveniles are white, adults are WHITE! |
 |
Snow and Hypomanelistic |
Incredible shades of white, pink,
yellow, lavender, most patternless. Babies are translucent pink at hatching, turning beige
at 1-2 days old. Colour continues to lighten for several months. By 6 months, most are
patternless. Adults are white, pale yellow and white, or pink and white.... |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
The subject of genetics is very complicated in any species and we do not to
profess to be specialists in the genetic field but we are including terms used to describe
attributes that pertain to the naming of morphs through there genetic traits:
Pigments
Melanin
– black
Amelanistic – No black pigment
Hypomelanistic
– Less than normal black pigment
Xanthinin
– Yellow
Axanthic
– No yellow pigment
Hypoxanthic
– Less than normal yellow pigment
Erythrinin
– Red
Anerythristic
– No red pigment
Hypoerythristic
– Less than normal red pigment
Hypererythristic - More than normal red pigment
Prefixes
A or AN – None
Hyper
– More than normal
Hypo
– Less than normal
Genetic Terms
An
animal carries two copies of every gene. Alternate forms of the gene are called alleles.
Recessive – A
recessive trait only manifests itself if both parents carry the trait or dominate gene.
Dominant –
Means that the trait will present itself even when the animal carries recessive genes for
something else.
Heterozygoes (Het)
– Means that the animals carry both the recessive gene and dominant alleles but other
wise looks normal.
|