Albinism in science is called a pigment disorder, the absence of one of the pigments - melanin. It is usually congenital. This pigment is responsible for the color of the skin, hair, and iris of the eye. There is a difference between partial and complete albinism of a person and some representatives of the fauna (with partial, for example, an albino animal has an incomplete, fragmentary color). The word itself comes from the Latin albus, which means white.
Reasons
It is scientifically substantiated by modern research that the main reason for this phenomenon may be the absence (as well as blocking) in the body of a special enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of melanin. This enzyme is called tyrosinase. In the genes that are responsible for its formation and replenishment, various disorders occur. As a result - the absence of a characteristic species color.
Albinos and melanists
This phenomenon in wildlife can be opposed to the phenomenonmelanism, when the black color in animals occurs as a result of an excess content of the pigment responsible for it. So, there are, for example, an albino tiger and a melanistic jaguar (the so-called black panther) in which opposite processes are clearly visible at the genetic level.
Which representatives of the fauna can be albinos?
Albino is an animal that can appear among many types of the Kingdom. Mostly they are mammals. But there are albino penguins, vultures and peacocks among birds, among amphibians - turtles and reptiles, some albino fish are also known to researchers. Albino is a rather rare animal, but even crocodiles or, for example, sea urchins and snakes have been scientifically recorded. Why nature creates these representatives of various species, depriving them of certain genes, remains a mystery. But a fact is a fact: for every ten to twenty thousand representatives of one species or another, one is an albino.
Organs of vision
There are various legends about the eyes of an albino or similar creatures, partly confirmed by scientific data. No matter how they were called: both vampires, and otherworldly entities, and alien creatures. And all because an albino is an animal that has red or blue eyes. But here the whole thing is more prosaic than it seems at first glance. In the absence of color and pigmentation, the light reflected in the eyeball passes through the red blood vessels. Thus, the capillaries seem to shine throughdevoid of melanin membrane of the eye. Hence the "vampire" color of the organs of vision of many albinos that exist in nature.
Albino Tiger
The so-called "white" tiger is not a separate subspecies. This is a Bengal tiger with a congenital mutation, previously considered an albino. Its fur is white with black and brown stripes along the body. Blue eyes. Such an original coloring of the animal led to the emergence of legends and legends with its participation in ancient times. However, oddly enough, it was scientifically described for the first time only in 1951. It is bitter to admit, but the last white tiger seen in natural conditions was killed in 1958. And all the other individuals - about 130 - are kept in captivity, in parks and zoos. Of these, more than a hundred are in India. According to modern scientific data, the white tiger is not a complete albino (otherwise its color would be without stripes, pure white). This coloration is caused by the presence of recessive genes.
Albino Rat
There is an opinion shared by many breeders that these rats are a special and very sensitive variety of pets that require increased affection and attention. It is supported by the reviews of those who keep a snow-white fluffy animal with the eyes of a vampire baby. But in fact, there is nothing special about an albino rat. The pigment melanin is simply absent, as in other animals prone to this natural defect. And the fact that rats are smart does not depend on color. Therefore, when starting a pet, you need totreat him like an ordinary domestic rat: feed the same products, care in the same way as recommended for this species. By the way, almost the only thing to consider is that albinos have slightly worse eyesight than other, “normal” rats. Therefore, you need to be treated with understanding if the animal does not see food or cannot approach the drinking bowl with water. With this shortcoming, you will have to be more careful.
