oddarena: Albino Animals

No matter how powerful God seems to be, he sometimes just runs out of paint (melanin), and every time this happens an albino animal is born.

Albinism (from Latin albus, “white) is a form of hypopigmentary congenital disorder, characterized by a partial lack or total absence of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair, or more rarely in the eyes alone. Due to this, animals (and humans too) are unusually pale. The eyes of an animal with albinism occasionally appear red because of the underlying retinal blood vessels showing through where there is not enough pigment to cover them.

Albino animals are rare in nature, and a man always had a fascination for these creatures since ancient times. Some cultures considered albinos as sacred animals,while others – as demoniac ones.

Asian short claw otters

A pair of extremely rare white otter cubs have been born at the Blue Planet Aquarium in the UK. The duo are part of a litter of three baby Asian short claw otters born at the aquarium at the end of March.

Their siblings are a coffee brown, but these baby otters were born a snowy white.

Albino kangaroo

Above, an albino baby kangaroo and its mother in a park in Denmark – the baby, whose sex is still unknown, has been outside of its mothers pouch for about two weeks.

the baby Bennett kangaroo sits in the grass of its enclosure. Park owners said that albino kangaroos account for 1 of every 10,000 kangaroo births.

Albino Alligator

A tiny albino alligator rests inside its artificial habitat at 'Sao Paulo Aquarium', in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

One of the rarest Alligators is White Alligators. They belong to the family Alligatoridae and are restricted to the areas of Southeastern United States. Their scientific name is Alligator Mississippiensis.

Albino Bison

In this photo provided by the National Buffalo Museum, a second white bison calf has been born in a herd on the edge of Jamestown, N.D.

Albino Bat

One of the rarest bats in the world, a completely white (albino) micro bat, nestles on the thumb of carer Pam Tully while recovering from a cat attack at the Batreach Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Kuranda, near Cairns in northern Australia.

Albino Barking Deer

Mok, a three-week old albino barking deer, leads his unnamed mother in their enclosure during a news conference introducing a new member of the Dusit Zoo in Bangkok, Thailand.

Albino Dolphin

This image released by Dolphin Safari.com shows an albino dolphin off Dana Point, Calif.

Hedgehog

Zoo keeper Mike Kirschner shows a newborn albino hedgehog at the Duisburg Zoo, Germany. This very rare hedgehog named "Meckie White" was born four weeks ago and was handed over by citizens who picked him up near their house. Hedgehogs are usually nocturnal and hibernate.

Albino gorilla

Copo de Niebe (Snowflake), the only albino gorilla in the Barcelona zoo, Spain.

Snowflake was an albino Western Lowland Gorilla, and the most popular resident of the Barcelona Zoo in Spain, where he spent most of his life. He was known worldwide, mentioned in tourist guides and put on postcards, becoming the unofficial mascot for the city.

Albino Great Horned Owl

An albino Great Horned Owl, the only one known to exist, according to the World Bird Sanctuary.

Albino Vervet Monkey

A rare albino Vervet monkey is seen in Livingstone, Zambia, 26 September 2006. The monkey spends a lot of time alone unlike regular Vervet monkeys. Vervet monkeys usually have black faces surrounded by white fur.

Albino Koala

Ten-month-old Onya-Birri, the only albino koala in captivity with his mother, Banjeeri, at the San Diego Zoo.

Albino Rat

Kada, an albino female rat trained by Alison Smith of Lincoln, Neb, struggles to stay on the rope as it competes in the tight rope event at the Xtreme Rat Challange competition at the Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.

Albino Burmese Python

Joaney Gallagher Director of the Rain Forest Reptile Shows and Don Goff Assistant Director and Curator of the Beardsley Zoo hold an 8- foot albino Burmese python.

Albino SquirrelKnown as the “White Squirrel Capital of the World,” Olney, Illinois, is home of the world’s largest known albino squirrel colony. Kenton, Tennessee is home to about 200 albino squirrels. There are also albino squirrels on the main campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Brevard, North Carolina and Marionville, Missouri have a substantial population of white (not albino) squirrels.

Albino squirrel nicknamed Snowy scavenges for nuts in a garden in England.

Western Kentucky University has a locally famous population of white squirrels. Exeter, Ontario in Canada is known for having non-albino white squirrels, believed to be the result of a genetic mutation in the early 20th century. The Snow Belt in Western and Central New York (Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse) also has a significant white squirrel population

The Albino Squirrel Preservation Society was founded at the University of Texas at Austin in 2001, and its sister chapter at University of North Texas (UNT) petitioned for an election to name their albino squirrel as the university’s secondary mascot. The University of Louisville in Kentucky also has a documented population of albino squirrels.

Albino Snakes