Content
- Albinism in animals
- Types of Albinism in Animals
- Consequences of Albinism in Animals
- famous albino animals
- Preservation of albino animals
The color of the skin and coat is one of the characteristics that make it possible to distinguish different species. However, there are some specimens of fauna whose appearance does not correspond to the members of their species: they are the albino animals.
The absence of pigmentation is a phenomenon that affects varieties of flora and fauna, including humans. What causes this curious appearance? Does it affect the lives of those with white skin and fur? We will answer these and other questions in this PeritoAnimal article about albinism in animals, with information, examples and photos. Keep reading!
Albinism in animals
Surely you know that albinism implies that the affected individual has the very white skin and fur. You may have seen photographs of people like that, or even known one. However, this phenomenon is not unique to humans and also occurs in wildlife.
To talk about albinism in animals, what it is and why it occurs, it must be said that this is an inherited genetic disorder. consists of the absence of melanin in fur, skin and iris, but what is melanin? Melanin is made up of tyrosine, an amino acid that melanocytes turn into the pigment needed to give animals color. Furthermore, the presence of melanin protects individuals from the harmful effects of the sun.
Hypopigmentation or albinism is the body's inability to produce melanin, so individuals with this problem look very particular. Albinism is hereditary but also recessive, so it is necessary for both parents to have the gene for offspring to be born with this disorder.
Types of Albinism in Animals
Albinism occurs at different levels in the animal kingdom, which means that, outwardly, not all affected individuals appear extremely pale or white. These are the types of albinism in animals:
- ocular albinism: lack of pigmentation only appears in the eyes;
- complete albinism (type 1 oculocutaneous): affects the skin, coat and eyes, which show different pale shades such as white, gray or pink.
- Type 2 oculocutaneous albinism: the individual has normal pigmentation in some area of the body.
- Type 3 and 4 oculocutaneous albinism: The role of tyrosine is unstable, so animals have some normal features in addition to white spots or areas without melanin.
Consequences of Albinism in Animals
When it comes to albino animals, we also want to talk about how this disorder affects individuals. The lack of pigmentation causes the following consequences:
- Pink or gray skin, product of the bloodstream that can be noticed through the colorless dermis;
- red or pink eyes (complete albinism) or blue, brown or green (oculocutaneous albinism 2, 3 and 4);
- Pale, blond, gray or white coat;
- sensitivity and intolerance to prolonged sun exposure;
- Decreased visual ability;
- Hearing problems.
The consequences for albino animals go beyond physical appearance or a reduction in the acuity of some senses. In nature, an albino animal does not have the necessary camouflage to hide from your predators; therefore, light colors make it more visible and prone to attack. For this reason, life expectancy in the freedom of albino animals is reduced.
This disorder affects any animal species, although it is more common to see complete albinism in domestic animals such as rats, cats, dogs and rabbits. However, it can also be observed in nature in wild species such as gorillas, snakes, turtles, zebras, amphibians, giraffes, crocodiles and many others.
Melanism, in turn, is excessive pigmentation and can also be observed in some animals. You can better understand this condition in the article about animals with melanism.
famous albino animals
Among these albino animals we also include the mention of species with hypopigmentation that are famous. Some of them have passed away, but gained a lot of popularity while they were alive. These are some of the most famous albino animals in the world:
- snowdrop it was an albino African penguin. He died in 2004 at the UK Zoo, where he was a true celebrity.
- Snowflake was one of the best known albino animals. There are no records of other albino gorillas, and this one lived at the Barcelona Zoo until 2003.
- Claude is an albino crocodile that lives in California, in the swamp inside the Academy of Sciences.
- pearl is another female albino crocodile sighted in Australia.
- Ludwing is an albino lion that lives in a zoo in Kiev, Ukraine.
- onya is a rare case of albinism in koalas, and currently lives in Australia.
- Since 1991 there have been sightings of crumb, an albino humpback whale that frequents the Australian coast.
Preservation of albino animals
Many animal species are in danger of extinction today. This affects both normal individuals and individuals suffering from albinism. There are no records of albino animals at risk of extinction, since birth requires such specific genetic conditions that it is difficult to speak of a population density composed of individuals with this characteristic.
Despite this, some species, such as the variety of albino lion or the white lion, are often preferred by hunters because of their rarity. However, it is impossible to claim that she is in greater danger than other lion varieties.
Speaking of them, we take this opportunity to leave this video about wild animals in Africa:
See photos of albino animals in the gallery below:
If you want to read more articles similar to Albino Animals - Information, Examples and Photos, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.