Pigment Mutation Crocodile... Different from Albino
A 'white alligator' has been born in a park in Florida, USA, drawing attention. The alligator with pigment mutation is known to be so rare that cases are hard to find worldwide.
On the 7th (local time), a leucistic (pigment mutation) female alligator hatched at Gatorland, a reptile park in Orlando, Florida. At the time of hatching, the alligator weighed 96g and measured 48.7 cm in length.
Leucistic alligators are all white with spots on their skin. They are easily sunburned and cannot be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. This alligator is a species with pigment mutation and is distinct from albino alligators, which lack pigment almost entirely and have pink-colored eyes due to depigmentation.
Leucistic alligators retain pigment in their eyes, maintaining their original color or exhibiting a bright blue hue.
Only seven leucistic alligators have been reported worldwide to date. Among them, three are at Gatorland. Meanwhile, the birth of a leucistic alligator is said to be the first in 36 years since an alligator nest was discovered in the Louisiana swamps in the United States.
Regarding this, Gatorland emphasized, "This is the first case of a leucistic alligator born in a captive environment. It is truly rare and astonishing."
Currently, Gatorland is accepting name suggestions for the alligator through its official website. Mark McHugh of Gatorland explained, "It is an event to celebrate the alligator's birth together with the public."
However, this alligator has not yet been revealed to the general public due to its extreme sensitivity to sunlight. Gatorland plans to monitor the alligator's health and growth first, and then open it to the public starting early next year.
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