Albino Animals: What Are They and their Interesting Facts

Albino animals, such as a white orangutan or a white elephant, are incredibly rare and striking to behold due to their unexpected coloration. The phenomenon of albinism in animals gives rise to these unique creatures. These rare beings have captivated human imagination to the extent that folklore often ascribes them as omens of good luck and fertility, further adding to their mystique.

Understanding Albino Animals

What Defines Albino Animals

Albino animals stand in contrast to melanistic animals, characterized by their black coloration. These creatures lack an adequate production of melanin or have none at all, resulting in their distinct white appearance, pink skin, and eyes. The absence of melanin not only gives rise to a white coat but also reveals the underlying pink skin, sometimes causing the animals to appear pink. The pinkish hue in their eyes is often due to the visibility of blood vessels close to the skin’s surface.

Varieties of Albino Animals

While albinism can potentially affect most species, not every white animal is necessarily an albino. True albinos are identifiable by their pink eyes. Some animals exhibit white coloring due to specific genetic factors that lead to a white coat.

Although there is no recorded evidence of albino tigers or lions, instances of albinism have been documented in other big cats, such as leopards, albeit rarely, and cheetahs.

Compared to the rarity of melanism in aquatic animals, albinism has been observed in various species of whales and dolphins. It is also relatively common among several species of fish.

List of Albino Animals

There are a number of animals that can be albino and some of them are:

• Deer
• Orangutans
• Giraffes
• Squirrels
• Horses
• Dogs
• Cats
• Alligators
• Corn snakes
• Frogs
• Toads
• Lizards
• Foxes
• Whales
• Dolphins

Fascinating Facts about Albino Animals

• The term “albino” originates from the Latin word for “white.”
• Albino animals commonly experience poor eyesight due to the crucial role of melanin in healthy eye development.
• Sun-loving albino animals often have shorter lifespans than their normally colored counterparts because melanin usually protects the skin from the sun, leaving them at a high risk of melanoma (skin cancer).
• Albino animals are more easily spotted by predators, putting them at greater risk.
• Nocturnal albino animals, particularly those that hunt at night, face significant disadvantages as their color makes them highly visible in the dark.
• Albino white-tailed deer are legally protected in Iowa, making it illegal to hunt them.
• Feathers on albino birds are notably weaker and prone to breakage.
• Leucistic animals, with a reduced amount of melanin but not to the extent of albino animals, typically retain a normal colored nose and eyes, while albino animals have pink noses and eyes.
• Albinism is a recessive gene, meaning offspring will also be albino if both parents carry the gene.
• Albino alligators often fall prey to predators before reaching adulthood due to their high visibility.
• Only one albino gorilla has been documented worldwide, a lowland gorilla from Barcelona Zoo who developed skin cancer in 2003.
• White tigers are not albinos; they are Bengal tigers with parents carrying a recessive gene causing a color mutation, similar to the genetics of white lions.
• A lone known albino orangutan, a female named Alba, was released back into the wild in December 2018 after rehabilitation.
• In 2015, a pair of albino fox cubs were sighted in London, an exceedingly rare occurrence for foxes.
• The presence of albinism in wolves remains unknown.
• The first recorded sighting of an albino humpback whale occurred off the coast of Australia in 1991.
• Most albino birds born in the wild are believed to perish shortly after birth.
• Albinism is estimated to affect approximately one in every 10,000 raccoons born.
• Albino elephants are exceptionally rare and have occasionally faced rejection from their herds due to their distinct appearance.