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 coloring of the skin, hair, and iris. Partial and complete albinism of humans and some representatives of the fauna is distinguished (with partial, for example, an albino animal has an incomplete, fragmentary color). The word itself comes from the Latin albus, which means "white."
Causes
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 contrasted with the phenomenon of melanism, when the black color in animals arises as a result of the excess content of the pigment responsible for it. So, for example, there are an albino tiger and a melanist jaguar (the so-called black panther) in which opposite processes are clearly visible at the genetic level.
What fauna representatives can be albinos?
Albino is an animal that can appear among many species of the kingdom. These are mainly 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 an animal rather rare, but even crocodiles or, for example, sea urchins and snakes are 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 kind or another, one is an albino.
Organs of vision
A variety of legends go about the eyes of an albino or similar creatures, partly confirmed by scientific data. As they were just not called: vampires, and otherworldly entities, and alien creatures. And all because 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, the light reflected in the eyeball passes through red blood vessels. Thus, the capillaries seem to shine through the melanin-free shell 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 an innate mutation, previously considered an albino. His fur is white with black and brown stripes over the body. Blue eyes. Such an original coloring of the animal led to the emergence 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 is bitter to realize, but the last white tiger seen in natural conditions was killed in 1958. And all 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 have been without stripes, pure white). This color is caused by the presence of recessive genes.
