Discover 5 Amazing Milk Snake Morphs

Written by Kristin Hitchcock
Updated: November 14, 2023
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There are tons of milk snake morphs. In fact, there are probably more than you can count. Ever since people started breeding these snakes in captivity, more and more morphs have appeared and then been selectively bred.

Even today, more morphs are appearing all the time, often by accident. Once they appear, advertisements for them increase their popularity.

Below, we’ll go over many of the popular milk snake morphs. However, you should realize that these morphs change all the time.

1. Normal Type

Best Pet Snakes

Many types of milk snake species are kept as pets. Morphs are slightly different from species, as they are just

color

differences – not a new species. The Honduran milk snake is the most common species kept in captivity.

©TheTexasNaturalist/Shutterstock.com

A normal milk snake is, well, normal. It’s known as the wild type, as this is what these snakes look like in the wild. Therefore, they aren’t the most exciting and are typically the best representation of the species.

These snakes have vibrant bands of red, black, and yellow, which run along the length of their body. These are distinct and appear in a pattern. This coloration is considered classic and is still very popular.

2. Albino

Albinos Honduran milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis,

Albino Honduran milk snakes are relatively common. Unlike what you might expect, these snakes are not

completely

white.

©GlobalP/iStock via Getty Images

You’ve likely seen these snakes at least a few times. They have mostly white or cream-colored bodies due to a lack of melanin pigmentation. Their bands are usually red and yellow (if they have bands). The absence of darker colors makes them appear extremely similar to the wild type but with slightly different colors.

3. Tangerine Albino

Albino Tangerine selection Honduran milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis,

This milk snake morph is slightly orange-tinted, hence their name of “tangerine.” They’re one of the rarer options on this list.

©GlobalP/iStock via Getty Images

This slight variation from albino is strikingly similar. However, they have a very intense, vivid orange or tangerine hue on their bands. This variation is very bright and eye-catching, which is one reason for its popularity.

That said, it isn’t as common as other options on this list, so it may be more challenging to find.

4. Hypomelanistic

These snakes have reduced pigmentation, but they still have some coloration. Therefore, they’re a mix between a wild type and an albino snake. They have a lighter, less saturated coloration.

They still retain the classic red, black, and yellow banding. However, they aren’t as intense. Therefore, the snake has a subdued coloring, but not significantly.

5. Anerythristic

These milk snakes are striking in their own right, but they aren’t nearly as dramatic as some of the other options on this list. They lack red pigment completely, which eliminates some of the colors on their bands. They are primarily black and white or black and grey, depending on the exact snake.

The absence of red creates a very monochromatic pattern, making them a little less dramatic than others.

Summary of Milk Snake Morphs

NumberMorph
1Normal/Wild Type
2Albino
3Tangerine Albino
4Hypomelanistic
5Anerythristic

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Nathan A Shepard/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Kristin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering dogs, cats, fish, and other pets. She has been an animal writer for seven years, writing for top publications on everything from chinchilla cancer to the rise of designer dogs. She currently lives in Tennessee with her cat, dogs, and two children. When she isn't writing about pets, she enjoys hiking and crocheting.

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