Albinism is defined by a lack of pigmentation in the skin, eyes and hair. Depending on the animal, albinism expresses itself to varying degrees, such as the albino python, which has yellow patterns instead of the standard brown. Animals that are unusually snowy-white but do not have red eyes are not albino, however. A different, rare genetic disorder known as leucism causes reduction in pigmentation in the skin and hair, but does not affect eye color.
_______________________________________________
10. Kangaroo
Credit: nitram0864 | flickr
Unlike the kangaroo's usual dark caramel or gray fur color, those born as albinos have white fur and pink eyes, paws and muzzles.
_______________________________________________
09. Squirrel
Credit: Andrea Browning
Albino squirrels are quite popular in some parts of the United States. Olney, Ill., is one of the towns that calls itself "Home of the White Squirrels," along with Marionville, Mo., and Brevard, N.C. The township of Kenton, Tenn., proudly boasts a population of 200 of the furry, pale rodents.
_______________________________________________
08.Deer
Credit: Mike Lewis | pescatello - flickr
A lack of pigmentation in the irises of albino animals' eyes causes blood vessels to show through, giving them their crimson hue, such as the case with this tiny fawn. Approximately one in every 30,000 deer births is albino.
_______________________________________________
07. Alligator
Credit: Mila Zinkova
Because they are so pale, albino alligators can get a pink sunburn from being out in direct sunlight for too long. To accommodate them, zoos such as the Knoxville Zoo in Knoxville, Tenn., create heavily shaded habitats with special heat lamps for the pigment-challenged alligators
_______________________________________________
06. Skunks
Credit: jenni-skunks | flickr
These skunks look much less menacing without their trademark black and white stripes, but their scent glands are just as stinky as their normal counterparts.
_______________________________________________
05.Albino pythons
Albino pythons have light yellow patterns on their pale, pinkish-white skin instead of the standard brown and tan designs.
_______________________________________________
04.Hedgehog
Credit: deniscarl.com
Only one in 10,000 hedgehogs is born albino, with red eyes. Although it seems as though the creamy hue of their spines would make it difficult for them to hide from predators, hedgehogs in the wild often rummage through dirt, which aides in camouflaging their bodies.
_______________________________________________
03. Eastern Screech Owl
Credit: Jon P. Inghram
Screech owls normally range in color from gray to rusty brown, with distinct, buttercup-yellow irises. Albino owls, however, have pink skin around their eyes, whose color can range from pink to a dark cherry-red. Pink toes are another indicator of albinism in owls. (Snowy owls are often confused with albino owls, but snowy owls have black specks on their lower bodies and golden eyes that are ringed with black skin.)
_______________________________________________
02. Chipmunk
Credit: Kevin James | k.d.james | flickr
Rather than having the characteristic black-and-white stripes running down their tawny bodies, albino chipmunks are white with pale butterscotch stripes. This albino chipmunk was photographed at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in North Somerset, United Kingdom, in June 2011.
_______________________________________________
01. Albino Iguana
Credit: Mgkuijpers | Dreamstime
Similar to albino pythons, albino iguanas have light yellow coloring over their light pink skin. Though albino animals are not usually blind, as one myth puts forth, the lack of pigmentation in their eyes allows light to penetrate directly through the structures of the eye rather than only pass through the pupil. This can lead to vision problems over time, but does not cause them to completely lose their eyesight.
_______________________________________________
0 comments:
Post a Comment