A rare white alligator is an unusual addition to a Florida reserve

The cub was diagnosed with leukism, a disease that causes loss of skin pigmentation in animals

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Photo: Gatorland
Photo: Gatorland
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

An extremely rare white alligator was born this summer at a theme park, wildlife sanctuary in Florida.

Gatorland Reserve invites people to join and participate in choosing the name of this reptile.

They add that for now they offer: Ice, Noelle, Snow, Pearl, Ivory and Marshmallow.

The cub was diagnosed with leukism, a disease that causes loss of skin pigmentation in animals.

He inherited the disorder from his father, while his mother has normal skin color.

Zoo workers say Jayan and Ashley, the alligator parents from the Louisiana swamp, are in good health and the cub was born along with a brother of normal color and the same size.

Reptiles with leukism are the rarest genetic variation of the American alligator, Gatorland said Thursday.

"Leukism in alligators causes a white color, but it happens that they also have spots or marks on the skin of a normal color.

"Since they do not have a dark pigment, they must not be exposed directly to the sun, because they burn easily," the park added.

They usually have transparent skin and blue eyes, unlike albino alligators which have red or pink eyes.

American Nature Audubon Institute says they are "ethereal, ghostly, but also beautiful".

Visitors will be able to see the white alligator and her normal-colored brother at the beginning of next year, 2024, the park announced.


What is leukism?

  • Animals with leukism lose skin pigmentation
  • It is a different disorder compared to albinism, where melanin is not produced at all
  • Animals with leukism may have a darker pigment in the soft tissue
  • Giraffes with leukism have dark eyes, while animals with albinism have pink eyes
  • Birds, lions, fish, peacocks, penguins, eagles, hippos, moose and snakes all have the characteristics of this disease.

See also this story


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