Albino and Rare White Animals

Albinism is from gene mutations that affect the production of normal pigmentation. A real true albino lacks melanin and are white with no markings and with unpigmented eyes (pink). A partial (blue-eyed) albino has slight pigmentation. There is also piebaldism where there are patches from mutations in certains skin cell areas. Some even have color on cooler parts of the body such as a siamese cat with colored head and legs, but not on warmer parts of its body.

There are other kinds such as bluish-grey anerythristic who lack the color red. Tyrosinase-negative where it produces a pale yellowish animal with pink eyes. Tyrosinase-positive making a fawn/platinum color. Axanthic lack yellow and their color depends on colors in their original pattern.

Leucism is not albinism, but it is reduced pigmentation. It's in makes animals white or almost. In lions it will be usually white or very pale hair, with dark eyes and some pigmentation, for example ghost markings. Partial leucism is called piebald. Large patterned horses, birds with large areas of color and patches of less or no color. Chinchilla is a mutation that affects the distribution of pigment on the hair shaft. White tigers are chinchilla. Other mutations also cause white animals; some of the animals pictured here (white peacocks) are white, but not albino.

Photo: WireLizard / Brian Burger on Flickr. CC Some rights reserved.