post #2504314 post #274764 post #2248355 post #154040 post #2798251

This is the term used for an organism affected by albinism.
For mammals, it is typically characterized by all white, featureless fur; pink noses, pawpads, scars & other exposed skin; and red eyes. For birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians, it is typically characterized by all white scales or feathers, scutes, talons or claws, white or pink skin, and red or pink eyes.

Contrary to popular believe, a white tiger is not an albino. Their oddly colored coat is result of a genetic mutation. A true albino tiger would completely lack stripes.

Due to the different pigmentation methods of reptiles and some birds, many of them labeled as albino are actually amelanistic. An amelanistic reptile or bird may still have pale yellow, orange, or red pigmentation. This is due to the fact that melanin specifically is not produced in amelanistic animals. In mammals, albinism and amelanism are synonymous, as melanin is the only pigment they produce. These other species, however, may utilize pigments such as carotenoids in addition to melanin. Amelanistic birds or reptiles may have patches of white mixed with their usual colors; or in some cases may have color patterns that are atypical for the species, such as bright yellow or red; or they may be covered entirely in those colors with no visible whiteness. They will, however, have red or pink eyes the same as albinos. Due to differences in coloration, some amelanistic non-mammals may be completely white and thus indiscernible from albinos. It is also possible, though extremely rare, for some of these animals to be incapable of exhibiting melanin and carotenoid pigmentation alike, which results in what may be called true albinism. For the purposes of tagging, however, amelanism and true albinism alike may use the albino tag.

See also

• melanism

Not to be confused with

• white_fur
• leucism