Albino - an animal rare, but found in nature

Albinism in science is called pigmentation, the absence of one of the pigments - melanin. It, as a rule, is congenital. This pigment is responsible for coloring the skin, hair, iris of the eye. There is a partial and complete albinism of man and some representatives of fauna (for partial, for example, the albino-animal has an incomplete, fragmentary color). The word itself comes from the Latin albus, which means "white".

Causes

Scientifically substantiated by modern studies, the main cause of this phenomenon may be the absence (as well as blocking) in the body of a special enzyme, which is responsible for the synthesis of melanin. This enzyme is called tyrosinase. In the genes that are responsible for its formation and replenishment, there are various violations. As a result, the absence of a characteristic species color.

Albinos and melanists

This phenomenon in living nature can be contrasted with the phenomenon of melanism, when black color in animals arises from the excess content of pigment responsible for it. For example, there are, for example, a tiger-albino and a jaguar-melanist (the so-called black panther) in whom the opposite processes are clearly seen at the genetic level.

What kind of fauna can be albinos?

Albino is an animal that can appear among many kinds of kingdom. They are mostly mammals. But there are albino penguins, vultures and peacocks among birds, among amphibians - turtles and reptiles, some albino fish are known to researchers. Albino is an animal quite rare, but even crocodiles or, for example, sea urchins and snakes are scientifically recorded. Why nature creates these representatives of different species, depriving them of certain genes, remains a mystery. But the fact is a fact: approximately for every ten or twenty thousand representatives of this or that species one is an albino.

The organs of sight

About the eyes of albinos or similar creatures are various legends, partly confirmed and scientific data. As they just did not call it: vampires, otherworldly beings, and extraterrestrial beings. And all because the albino is an animal that has red or blue eyes. But here the whole matter is more prosaic than it seems at first glance. In the absence of color and pigmentation, light reflected in the eyeball passes through blood vessels that have a red color. Thus, the capillaries seem to shine through the skinless melanin of the eye. Hence the "vampire" color of the organs of sight of many albinos that exist in nature.

Tiger-albino

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 has a white color with black and brown strips on the body. Blue eyes. This original coloring of the animal led to the creation in ancient times of legends and legends with his participation. However, strangely enough, it was scientifically described for the first time only in 1951. It's painful to realize, but the last white tiger that was seen in the wild was killed in 1958. And all other individuals - about 130 - are kept in captivity, in parks and zoos. Of these, more than a hundred - in India. According to modern scientific data, a white tiger is not a complete albino (otherwise its color would be without bands, pure white). This coloration is caused by the presence of recessive genes.

The albino rat

There is an opinion, common among many breeders, that these rats are a special and very sensitive species of domestic animals, requiring increased caress and attention. It is also supported by the testimonies of those who keep a snow-white fluffy animal with the eyes of a vampirenha. In fact, there is nothing special about the albino rat. Just missing the pigment melanin, as in other animals that are prone to this natural defect. And the fact that rats are intelligent, so it does not depend on the color. Therefore, when planting a pet, one should treat him like a normal domestic rat: feed the same foods, take care as recommended for this species. By the way, almost the only thing to consider is that the albinos have a slightly worse vision than the rest of the "normal" rats. Therefore, it is necessary to treat with understanding if the animal does not see the feed or can not approach the water bowl. This shortcoming will already have to be more closely watched.