What is a key distinguishing feature regarding the belly pattern of a Yellow Belly?

Absence of dark speckling in the center

A highly reliable visual cue for identifying a Yellow Belly, especially when compared against a typical wild-type ball python, relates to the underside pigmentation. Wild-type snakes frequently exhibit numerous small, dark freckles or speckling distributed within the pale lateral blotches and across the belly scales. In contrast, Yellow Bellies generally display a significantly cleaner belly section, lacking this central speckling. Furthermore, the scales along the very edge where the belly meets the sides are often bordered by a distinct checkered or motley pattern, offering another contrasting field mark compared to the speckling found in normals.