The first captive albino ball python was born sometime in the late 70’s and aggressive breeding from the early 90’s on has resulted in all these morphs. It is amazing that a semi domesticated animal such as a snake can produce so much variability in so short a time. The genes were all there, just waiting to be expressed.
Animal Color Morphs!
I have a slight obsession with oddball animals. Whether they are white or black or albino, I find different beautiful. Of course many of them are only possible because the animals are in captivity. I'll try to include a little info with each post. Hope you like it!
Please please please submit any pictures or ideas!!
I love the sharp yellow eye and coal black coat.
Winking (by danihernanz)
Both melanistic jaguars and leopards have been spotted in the wild in dark forest cover. It has been surmised that black panthers are the most populous color morph of any big cat in the wild because it actually helps the cats hunt and survive.
black panther (by orange_fairydust)
Melanistic leopards are the most common form of black panther in captivity and they have been selectively bred for decades in the zoo and exotic pet trades.
BLACK PANTHER (by bigmikedogbanditbigmike)
Melanism in the jaguar (Panthera onca) is dominant and in the leopard (Panthera pardus) is recessive. Close examination of the color of these black cats will show that the typical markings are still present, but are hidden by the excess black pigment melanin, giving an effect similar to that of printed silk.
Killer Kon (by moocatmoocat)
Unlike the white tigers, all of the white lions are of a known subspecies… Panthera leo krugeri. Captive lions in general are notoriously mixed up. According to the latest studbook, there are only 63 lions of KNOWN subspecies in North American and South African zoos combined. Of these 53 are P. l. krugeri.
(via The White Lion Thread)
It is hard to determine exactly how many white lions there are today, because they are held in captive breeding and hunting operations which don’t keep adequate records. Based on available evidence, The Global White Lion Protection Trust estimate there are an estimated 300 White Lions world-wide.
(via Haldir knows to flirt by)
(via tuckhasthoughts)
White lions are not albinos but are leucistic. They have pigment visible in the eyes (which may be the normal hazel or golden color, blue-gray, or green-gray), paw pads and lips. The leucistic trait is due to the chinchilla mutation that inhibits the deposition of pigment along the hair shaft, restricting it to the tips. The less pigment there is along the hair shaft, the paler the lion. As a result “white” lions range from blonde through to near white. The males have pale manes and tail tips instead of the usual dark tawny or black.
(via Male White Lion - Lions)
Look at those baby blues!
There are some game ranches and farms that breed specifically for albino and piebald whitetails. Also private landowners often plant extra forage if they know there are albino or piebalds around. All these measures have added up to the largest population of albino whitetail deer that has ever been in existence.
(via Dream Buck )
