Shadow Hognoses
The Shadow morph produces large, square-edged saddles on a western hognose. These saddles are packed with dark pigment and each one has a blush that looks like a cast shadow. Ask the seller what its parents looked like and which line the animal comes from before you buy.
About the Shadow gene
The western hognose (Heterodon nasicus) has a pattern trait called Shadow. This trait puts heavy, high-contrast back markings on the animal. These large, blocky saddles are loaded with dark pigment and have a soft blush around each one. This blush looks like a shadow thrown on the ground colour.
Appearance
Check the saddles first. These are square-edged and large, with melanin sitting heavily along the top of the back. The name comes from the fading edge where the pattern meets the background colour, and most animals show a blush line there. There are black edges on the head markings and the saddles, and many animals have eyebrow markings above the eyes. The bellies run dark and are often close to solid black.
Genetics
There is a dispute over how Shadow is inherited. One group views it as a polygenic line made by pairing the best-marked animals while the other group treats it as a single dominant gene. You will see Shadow and Pos Shadow in listings. Ask the seller about the animal's parents and which line it comes from until the mode is settled. Breeders are already combining it with other genes, including Arctic Shadow.