What are albino animals?
With pale or completely white skin, fur or feathers, albino animals are a rare and striking sight in the wild. Caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the production of pigmentation, albinism results in pale colouring and is often accompanied by pink or red eyes. However, their distinctive appearance can also come with challenges as they lack natural camouflage, resulting in albino animals facing greater exposure to predators and may face additional survival obstacles in the wild. As a result, many albino wild animal species live in captivity.
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Gallery of albino wild animals
Albino northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus)
The albino northern white-breasted hedgehog is a rare form of the species Erinaceus roumanicus, distinguished by its pale or white spines and pink eyes. Not all pale hedgehogs are true albinos, however, as some exhibit a blonde or leucistic appearance, featuring creamy-coloured spines and dark eyes, due to partial pigmentation loss.
Albino whitetail buck deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Catching sight of an albino white-tailed buck (Odocoileus virginianus) in the wild is exceptionally rare. Marked by its snow-white fur, pink eyes, nose, and hooves. A shy and skittish breed, the white-tailed deer is the smallest member of the North American deer family.
Albino Ferret (Mustela Putorius Furo)
The albino ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a visually striking variation of the domesticated European polecat, distinguished by its snow-white fur, pink nose, and red or pink eyes. Despite their unique look, albino ferrets are not a separate breed but simply one of several colour variations found within the domestic ferret population. They possess the same behavioural traits, health needs, and temperament as other ferrets, although their sensitivity to light may be slightly heightened due to their lack of pigmentation.
Albino Tanuki (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus)
Albino tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus), are members of the canid family and not true raccoons. Native to Japan, in rare cases, they can display an albino phenotype caused by a genetic mutation.
This condition results in a white coat and red eyes due to the absence of melanin. Interestingly, albino tanuki are reported more frequently in some mountainous regions of Japan. A study found that the condition is linked to a mutant gene and lack the TYR gene encoding tyrosinase, which plays a key role in melanin production and pigmentation.
Albino gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Snowflake was the world’s only known albino gorilla, a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) who lived at the Barcelona Zoo from 1966 until he died in 2003. Captured in Equatorial Guinea in 1966, Snowflake quickly became an international sensation due to his rare albinism, which gave him white fur, pink skin, and blue eyes.
Genetic studies later revealed that his albinism was caused by a mutation in the SLC45A2 gene, inherited from closely related parents. Despite his unusual appearance, Snowflake exhibited typical gorilla behavior and fathered 22 offspring, though none inherited his albino trait. He spent 37 years at the zoo, where he was a beloved symbol of conservation and education before passing away from skin cancer, a condition likely linked to his lack of pigmentation.
Albino African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)
Although albino frogs are rarely found in the wild, they are quite common in the pet trade, especially albino variants of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). These frogs are easily recognised by their pale pink or yellowish-white skin and red or pink eyes, a result of albinism, which inhibits melanin production.
Despite their unusual coloration, albino African clawed frogs are biologically identical to their normally pigmented counterparts.
White albino alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Albino alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are incredibly rare, with only around 50 known individuals worldwide. The lack of pigmentation makes albino alligators highly sensitive to sunlight, often resulting in poor eyesight and a heightened risk of skin damage. In the wild, their inability to blend into their surroundings leaves them especially vulnerable to predators, which is one reason why so few survive outside of captivity.
Albino snail
Albino snails have a pale, translucent, or creamy white body, often accompanied by a lighter-than-usual shell. The lack of melanin, the pigment responsible for colouration, can make these snails more vulnerable to sunlight and predators due to reduced camouflage and increased light sensitivity.
Albino snails are not a separate species but occur as rare variations within existing species, such as the Giant African Land Snail (Achatina fulica) and the Tiger Land Snail (Achatina achatina). In these species, albinism may affect only the body, leaving the shell its usual colour, or in some cases, the shell may also appear unusually light or translucent.
Albino kangaroo
Albino kangaroos are extremely rare, with estimates suggesting they occur in just one out of every 50,000 to 100,000 individuals. These kangaroos exhibit a complete lack of melanin and have white fur, pink or red eyes, and pale skin, and are often highly sensitive to sunlight.
The scientific name of an albino kangaroo varies depending on its species, as albinism can occur across different types of kangaroos. Most commonly, albino individuals are found among Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), but they can also appear in Red Kangaroos (Macropus rufus) and other macropod species.
In the wild, their bright coloration makes them more visible to predators and more susceptible to issues like sunburn and vision problems, which can hinder their survival.
Albino western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
Albino Western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) are a striking and rare variation – instead of the typical gray, brown, and black patterns, albino diamondbacks display pale yellow, white, and pinkish tones, often with red or pink eyes, making them distinctive yet highly vulnerable in the wild.
This species is native to the southwestern United States, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as the northern regions of Mexico. In their natural habitat, diamondbacks seek shelter from the intense sun by coiling beneath low-growing shrubs, inside rock crevices, or beneath piles of debris. For albino individuals, this behaviour is especially important, as their light-sensitive eyes and pale skin make them more susceptible to sun damage and predation.