Whiteout Genetics

Updated 2024 to Include Whitewall, Porthole & Phantoms

Early graphic (circa 2013-2014?) of two siblings from the 2012 breeding season. Both siblings are nearly identical (though not same age) and have what I termed "Whiteout" lateral markings. The one on the right is a homozygous carrier of the gene, giving it what I originally termed "Extreme Whiteout" laterals, or what we now call  "Whitewall" laterals.  This is a highly variable trait that is strongly influenced by other markings present on the gecko, such as Tiger, Harlequin, Portholes and Lateral Striping.  In lower expression specimens, the Whiteout gene can be difficult to spot, especially to the untrained eye.

Whiteout vs Whitewall

Whiteout is what I originally named the gene because they look like they were painted on with Whiteout brand liquid eraser.  This is the gene behind what is now widely called the "Whitewall" appearance, which is a term I use to this day and I believe was coined by my friend, Matt Parks, at Pangea Reptile (only diet we use, just FYI).

A Whitewall is basically just an homozygous version of the Whiteout, where the solid white lateral markings span the sides from limb to limb and reach up fairly high on the sides.  I believe the Whitewall markings have this appearance because of Whiteout being present in two gene copies and how it combines with lateral striping. I believe there's likely a separate gene controlling whether lateral markings are striped, portholes or whatever else (or non-existent). 

Genetically speaking, you can think of a Whitewall a homozygous Whiteout (or "Super Whiteout"), though you won't see either of those terms used in the hobby (at least not yet).

Whiteout Genetics

Whiteout is an incomplete dominant genetic mutation.

Though no genetic tests currently exist, I believe it's likely a mutated version of the gene responsible for lateral porthole markings and lateral striping.

Breeding Whiteout x Whiteout should produce roughly 1/4 Homozygous Whiteout (aka Whitewall), 1/4 Non-Whiteout, and 1/2 Whiteout. 

Shown at right is a Tangerine x Lavender/Black Pinstripe with some very attractive Whiteout (heterozygous) markings. Note that the Whiteout lateral markings have taken on a pinkish-peach tone, due to the presence of Tangerine pigment.

Whiteout Combo (Micro) Case Studies

Below I've laid out some images of various geckos where the Whiteout gene is present, note if it's one gene copy or two, and kinda give you the Cliff's Notes version of what you're looking at. Please excuse the iPhone photos, but some of these geckos I haven't even photographed in a proper studio setting yet. 

As with most genes, all of the other pattern elements present in a gecko, such as Pinstripe, Harlequin, Tiger and Portholes vs. Lateral Striping, can all have an impact on Whiteout/Whitewall markings.

Above is a C2/Citrus line Yellow & Cream Super Soft Scale with Whitewall Laterals.

This is a heavily Tangerine-pigmented Super Soft Scale with some excellent Whitewall lateral markings.

Great example of aberrantly patterned Whiteout markings on a Tangerine x Lavender Line Tri-Color

This gecko is a good example of one that could be a really nice Whiteout, or it could be a lower expression Whitewall - I believe this is actually a Whitewall, where the Harlequin markings are interfering with the height. 

C2 Citrus line Super Soft Scale with Whitewall markings and Tangerine pigment. This gecko is also a visual heterozygous Empty Back, evident by the yellow base color showing through the dorsal.  

 Whitewall laterals on a Tangerine x Citrus line Soft Scale + Het Empty Back

This is the gecko with aberrant Whitewall laterals- same gecko pictured at the top of the page. The pattern doesn't cut straight across, so some terminology nerds on social media might argue it's not a Whitewall. 

Something really weird/rare with some very unusual Whitewall markings. I wouldn't have necessarily known these were the same thing if I hadn't produced the gecko myself!

Great looking Tri-Color with Whiteout/Whitewall Laterals

Whitewall laterals on a Pink-Red Super Soft Scale. This gecko has no Lilly White present, yet note the ultra wide creamy fringe on her hind legs.  This widening of the fringe markings seems to be part of the Whiteout/Whitewall gene, essentially doing the same thing it does to white markings on the sides.

Whiteout x Porthole Laterals

This is where the naming convention we currently use gets a bit dicey and the adoption of a term like "Super Whiteout" might be necessary.  The animals you'll see below possess two copies of the Whiteout gene, but you'd be publicly shamed (bells and all, for my fellow GOT fans) if you went on Social Media calling these Whitewalls.

Right now these are being referred to as "Portholes" in the hobby and if there's one thing I can tell you is this isn't what used to be called Portholes.  This is a combo of Porthole laterals with two copies of Whiteout. (Just like the Whitewall form is technically Lateral Striping with two copies of Whiteout). 

This is something I began working on in the early 2010's, albeit in small numbers for the first several years - back then, Phantoms made up a small portion of my collection.  I didn't really fully explore what could be done here until maybe 2019 or so, which is when I started getting serious about putting together a large "parallel colony" of Phantoms with all the genes and traits from my non-Phantom projects.  Enter a 5 year journey of putting Whiteout on Phantom combos.

This is essentially a homozygous carrier of the Whiteout gene with Porthole type laterals, rather than striped. This is genetically speaking what we all call a Whitewall, but you surely would be crucified verbally by scores of self-anointed experts if you were to call this a Whitewall on social media. This starts to take us full circle back to the "Extreme Whiteout" term I started using 10+ years ago.  In today's nomenclature, though, I'd probably opt to call this a Super or Homozygous Whiteout x Porthole combo.

Homozygous Whiteout (Porthole combo) on a red-spotted red Super Dalmatian Phantom Pinstripe.

Whiteout (possibly Homozygous or a really good Heterozygous) on a red Soft Scale + Super Dalmatian + Phantom Pinstripe.  Although, genetically speaking, this doesn't have anything to do with the Whiteout gene itself, the laterals are really skirting the line between lateral striping and porthole type laterals, leading me to believe she may be a combo of both.  Either way, this determination is made by a different set of genes that Whiteout is merely interacting with. 

Outrageous Homozygous Whiteout (Porthole type) laterals on a red Soft Scale + Phantom Pinstripe

Excellent example of Porthole type homozygous Whiteout laterals on one of my Chips line (German/Russian stock) red Dalmatians.

Homozygous Whiteout laterals (Porthole type) on a fantastic red Soft Scale + Phantom

Phantom x Whiteout Combos

It's still unclear why, but Phantoms with a yellow or orange base color, which includes all my various C2, Citrus and Tangerine line crosses, will sometimes severely mute Whiteout lateral markings, while other times letting it shine through in all its glory. I think a lot of it has to do with the way Phantom likes to mute the white markings and also because of the light base color of the geckos contrasting with white the least of all crested gecko base colors.

This Tangerine x Citrus line Soft Scale Phantom has Whiteout laterals (most likely just one gene copy), which is what's making the lateral striping very thick.  The Tiger pattern is what's making the laterals so jagged/aberrant and Tangerine pigment is tinting them a pinkish orange color.  

This is a C2/Tangerine line Phantom with Whiteout (unsure if one or two gene copies) being severely muted by Phantom.  This one is obvious enough to be believed, but I commonly see Phantoms with Whitewall laterals so muted that you'd miss them, if you didn't know to be on the lookout for the gene.