This is what confused me, in my other studies of the skin/anatomy I was taught that melanin causes our tan/hair color/darker pigments. That being taught to me I assumed melanoid meant dark pigment thus I thought albino and melanoid were at the opposite ends :lol:.
genetics is still so confusing....
Yes they are always thought of as opposites
I'll try to break down all the colors I know of right now
Albino: No melanophores, has Xanthophores, has iridophores (This gene alone = Golden Albino)
Melanoid: No iridophores, Increased melanophores, decreased xanthophores
Axanthic: No xanthophores, No iridophores, has melanophores (not increased so not as dark as melanoids)
Leucistic: Prevents pigment from migrating resulting in non-pigmented individuals (some pigment can migrate depending on gene variation i.e. speckled)
Leucistic + albino = White albino
Leucistic + melanoid = leucistic with black eyes with no ring of iridophores
Leucistic + axanthic = leucistic with black eyes with no ring of iridophores
Albino + melanoid = Albino with no iridophores, contains some xanthophores
Albino + axanthic = almost white albino, yellows with age due to riboflavins
I don't know about the copper variation but I've heard it might be affecting a different type of pigment. Its also possible of having 3 or all of these different recessive genes, I would think that would lead to an axolotl that lacks all pigment and resembles a white albino. Don't forget either that there is always some variation amongst these leading to those super golden, super dark, or just different colored axolotls.