True pardalis pardalis vs hybrids

[jamie1210]

Hi, Everyone,
I'm aware that a true pardalis pardalis has the 2 dots on the vertebral scutes. However, if a seller designates his clutch of pardalis pardalis babies as being 100% pure, would there still be babies in said clutch with single dots/no dots on their scutes? That clutch would be considered hybrids, no? Thanks in advance!

 

[turtlesteve]

I do not think the “ two dots” thing is true in any general sense. However, in the US, all of the South African leopards come from a very small gene pool that shows this trait (at least, the vast majority do). There are lots of people that are publicly offering mixed babies claiming them as pure, and they will sometimes show hatchlings where 50% or less show two dots. So there is very much a “caveat emptor” situation buying on any public classifieds.

If there are leopards in the US that are verifiably South African and don’t produce mostly two dot babies, I am not aware of them. @Tom will know for sure.

The best you can hope for is the seller being able to document the lineage of their breeding stock.

 

[Tom]

Hi, Everyone,
I'm aware that a true pardalis pardalis has the 2 dots on the vertebral scutes. However, if a seller designates his clutch of pardalis pardalis babies as being 100% pure, would there still be babies in said clutch with single dots/no dots on their scutes? That clutch would be considered hybrids, no? Thanks in advance!

Most of the people selling "pure" ones aren't. And they get mad and defensive when this is pointed out. I tried to tell the admins on a certain marketplace site, and they essentially told me: Too bad, so sad. Buyer beware.

Its not just two dots in every single vertebral. There can be one spot, no spots or multiple spots. Pure babies are easy to spot for people who have hatched or raised a bunch. It gets harder to tell as they grow, but babies are obvious.




Post a pic of the baby in question and those of us who breed them can chime in.

 

[Tom]

More reference photos of true Gpp:

 

[jamie1210]

Thanks for all of the great responses. Here are the pics sent to me

The one on the left looks to be pure, but not quite sure about the bigger one here?


here's a picture of the clutch. Some have double dots other's don't. Would they be hybrids then?

 

[Tom]

Thanks for all of the great responses. Here are the pics sent to me

The one on the left looks to be pure, but not quite sure about the bigger one here? View attachment 329479


here's a picture of the clutch. Some have double dots other's don't. Would they be hybrids then? View attachment 329480

Those are definitely a mix. The three on the left tell the story. An unscrupulous breeder might only show someone the three on the right and falsely claim they are pure. The bottom right one is unusual, but I could be convinced that the three on the right were pure. Especially the middle right one.