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Joel Sartore/National Geographic Creative (albino kangaroo); Peter Trimming/Flickr/CC BY 2.0 (albino squirrel); Steve Cooper/Science Source (albino iguana); Dave Watts/Nature Picture Library (albino bird)

Colorless Creatures

Why some animals are born almost completely white

By Mara Grunbaum
From the Special Collections Issue

Learning Objective: Construct an explanation for how albinism affects an animal’s survival in the wild.

Lexile: 890L; 580L
Guided Reading Level: T
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Last April, a camera hidden in a forest in China snapped a photo of a passing animal. Scientists could tell from its head and body shape that it was a giant panda. Most pandas have black ears, legs, and shoulders and black patches around their eyes. But this panda’s fur was entirely white!

After examining the photo, scientists estimated that the panda was 1 to 2 years old. They determined its color was caused by a condition called albinism. Spotting the animal was lucky, says Ted Stankowich. He’s a biologist at California State University, Long Beach, who studies panda coloring. “It’s one of the first albino pandas ever seen in the wild,” he says. 

Scientists took a picture of something unusual last April. They had hidden a camera in a forest. It was in China. The camera snapped a photo of an animal passing by. The scientists could tell what the creature was from its shape. It was a giant panda. Most pandas have black ears, legs, and shoulders. They also have black patches around their eyes. But this panda’s fur was all white!

The scientists believe the panda was 1 to 2 years old. They thought albinism caused its color. This condition affects more than 300 types of animals. That includes people. The bodies of animals with albinism make little or no melanin. This natural pigment gives color to many animals’ skin, hair, or fur. It also colors their feathers or scales. Albino animals are mostly colorless without it. 

Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images (albino panda); Hung Chung Chih/iStock/Getty Images (giant panda)

This albino giant panda lacks the black markings that most pandas have. 

More than 300 types of animals—and people—can have albinism. The bodies of people and animals with the condition produce little or none of a natural pigment called melanin. Melanin gives color to many animals’ skin, hair, fur, feathers, or scales. Without it, albino animals are mostly colorless. This can make them look striking. But it can also make life challenging for them in the wild. 

Spotting the panda was lucky, says Ted Stankowich. He’s a biologist. He studies panda coloring at California State University, Long Beach. “It’s one of the first albino pandas ever seen in the wild,” he says. Albino animals often look striking. But the condition can make life tough for them in the wild.

Curious Coloring

You’ve probably seen a snow-white dog, cat, or bird before. You might be wondering: Do these animals have albinism? Not necessarily, says Murray Brilliant. He’s a scientist who studies albinism at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Wisconsin. “There are many naturally white animals that aren’t albino,” he says. 

You’ve probably seen a white dog, cat, or bird before. You might be wondering if these animals had albinism. Not necessarily, says Murray Brilliant. He’s a scientist. He studies albinism at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Wisconsin. “There are many naturally white animals that aren’t albino,” he says. 

Danita Delimont/Gallo Images/Getty Images (albino bison); Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images (albino alligator); CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM/REUTERS (albino sea turtle)

Most white animals produce some melanin. The pigment gives color to parts of their eyes, feet, noses, or beaks. In contrast, animals with albinism are pale all over. Depending on the animal, their eyes can be red, pink, or light blue.

Melanin helps protect the skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Animals and people without melanin are at greater risk of sunburn and other skin problems. The pigment also helps the eyes function, so albinism weakens eyesight. Scientists like Brilliant are working on treatments to help people with albinism see more clearly.

Most white animals make some melanin. The pigment gives color to their eyes, feet, noses, or beaks. But animals with albinism are pale all over. Their eyes can be red, pink, or light blue. It depends on the animal.

Melanin helps protect the skin. It blocks the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Animals and people without melanin are more likely to get sunburns. They can have other skin problems too. Melanin also helps the eyes work. So albinism weakens eyesight. Scientists like Brilliant are studying treatments. They could help people with the condition see better.

Pigment From Parents

Albinism is rare in both animals and people. Out of thousands of individual animals, just one or two might be born with the condition. It affects only about 1 in 20,000 people in the United States.

Albinism is an inherited trait, a characteristic passed down from generation to generation. An albino animal inherits genes that contribute to its coloring from both of its parents. Genes are found inside cells, the microscopic units that make up an animal’s body. Genes carry information that determines many traits, such as an animal’s eye, hair, and skin color.

Albinism is rare in both animals and people. Out of thousands of individual animals, just one or two might have the condition. It affects only about 1 in 20,000 people in the United States.

Albinism is an inherited trait, a characteristic passed down from generation to generation. An albino animal gets certain genes from both of its parents. They cause its coloring. Genes are found inside cells. They are the smallest units of the body. Genes carry information. They control much about how an animal looks. That includes its eye, hair, and skin color.

Because of how albinism is passed down, animals with typical coloring can have albino offspring (see Passing Down Albinism). It’s likely that both of the all-white panda’s parents had black-and-white fur. A parent with albinism can also have babies that produce pigment normally. That’s part of what makes the birth of a colorless animal so rare.

Animals don’t have to have albinism to have albino offspring. That’s because of how this condition is passed down (see Passing Down Albinism). The all-white panda’s parents likely had black-and-white fur. A parent with albinism can also have typically colored babies. That’s because both parents must give children genes for albinism. It’s what makes colorless animals so rare.

Life Challenges

Most animals that are born with albinism in the wild don’t survive into adulthood. Their poor vision makes it hard for them to find food and spot predators. Their lack of coloring can also make them easy prey. For instance, a panda’s coloring helps it hide from predators like leopards. The dark fur blends in with the forest. White fur is hard to see in winter snow. 

Most wild animals born with albinism don’t survive. Their poor vision makes it hard for them to find food. It also makes it hard to spot predators. Their lack of coloring makes them easy targets too. For instance, a panda’s typical coloring helps it hide from predators like leopards. The dark fur blends in with the forest. Their white fur is hard to see in winter snow.

Bruno Cavignaux/Getty Images

The albino panda in China could be easier for a predator to spot in summer, says Stankowich. But the fact that the panda has survived so far is a good sign, he adds. It may mean there aren’t many predators nearby. 

If the panda survives long enough, it could have babies. Some of them could inherit its unique coloring. Scientists plan to set up more cameras to observe the animal and learn more about its unusual life.

The albino panda in China could be easier for a predator to spot in summer, says Stankowich. But the panda has survived so far. That’s a good sign, he adds. It may mean there aren’t many predators nearby.

The panda could have babies if it lives long enough. Some of them could have its unique coloring. Scientists plan to set up more cameras. Then they can watch the animal. They can learn more about its unusual life.

Bernd Wüstneck/DPA/Alamy Stock Photo

A baby albino kangaroo peeks out of its mother’s pouch.

Slideshows (1)
Activities (3)
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

1. ENGAGE: Make observations and ask questions about albino animals.

  • Show the class a slideshow of animals with albinism (online at scholastic.com/superscience). Ask: What do you notice about these animals?
  • Have students share one thing they noticed about the pictures to partners in a “turn and talk.”
  • Prompt students to continue making observations and asking questions about the images. Students could do a gallery walk, making observations and asking questions about each image, or you can project the images one at a time. Have them share share their responses.
  • Explain that the animals in the slideshow have albinism, a condition that causes them to have little or no coloring. Write albinism on the board.
  • Have students predict how albinism might affect an animal’s ability to survive in the wild.

2. EXPLORE: Use a hands-on activity to model how albinism affects animals’ survival in the wild.

  • Gather and prepare the materials for the hands-on activity “Blending In”. To save time, you may want to punch out the paper circles in advance.
  • Before students complete the skill builder, have them predict what will happen. (The animals with albinism will be easier to see because they stand out in their environment.)
  • Have students work in groups to record their observations as they complete the activity. Then share their results and observations. 

3. EXPLAIN: Read the article and complete a skill builder modeling how albinism is inherited.

  • Tell students they’ve learned one way albinism affects wild animals: Animals that can hide have a better chance at surviving than those that stand out, like many albino animals.
  • Explain that albinism is an inherited trait, a characteristic passed down from parents to offspring. Write the definition on the board.
  • Have students read the article in small groups. Ask: − What may happen to a wild animal with albinism? (They can get sunburned or seen by predators.) − Why do only some animals have albinism? (Both parents must pass on the trait for albinism.)
  • Have small groups of students complete the skill builder “All in the Family” to reinforce how albinism is inherited. Discuss their answers when they finish.

4. EXTEND & EVALUATE: Construct an explanation for why animals have albinism and how it affects their survival.

  • Remind students that albinism affects many kinds of animals.
  • Hand out the “Make a Claim” template. Have students work in groups to research an animal with albinism and make a claim about how albinism affects that animal’s survival. Remind students they can refer to the article and their hands-on investigation for evidence. Share out student claims, evidence, and reasoning.

Differentiate and Customize

  • For Striving Learners: Support small groups with the “All in the Family” skill builder by modeling and describing how traits can be inherited from parents. Refer to the sidebar on page 13 of the article as needed.
  • Take It Further: Have students make a case for either capturing wild endangered albino animals or leaving them in their habitats. Ask: Under which circumstances would albinism most affect an animal’s survival?

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