Buzz
This list may lack color, but it is far from dull. While the familiar white lab rat comes to mind, this extraordinary survey highlights the incredible profiles of some rare albino animals, as well as the curious aspects of biological pigmentation. These animals have lost their pigment due to genetic mutations that affect melanin production. Albinism offers a unique opportunity to observe the animal world, free from the usual pigments that often obscure our view.
10. Ghost Moose
This isn’t the ghost of Christmas past. The moose, the largest deer species in the world, can be quite dangerous to humans. Typically, these large animals blend seamlessly into their forest environment with their dark coat, making them almost invisible among the shadowy woods. However, this rare albino moose stands out, perfectly matching the snowy landscape of northern Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately, once the snow melts, it becomes more visible to predators like the wolf. For this northern mammal, a downside of albinism is the heightened sensitivity to light, making the glare from the sun on the snow even more intense.
9. Snowy Hummingbird
The albino ruby-throated hummingbird, which is native to eastern North America, captured widespread attention after being spotted in a Virginia garden. While many albino creatures face exclusion or become targets for predators, this fast-moving bird is a solitary figure and likely too swift for most predators to catch. Typically, hummingbirds are known for their dazzling array of structural colors and pigments that make them appear like living emeralds, but this bird’s ruby throat is absent, with its red eyes serving as a striking substitute. The ruby-throated hummingbird is capable of migrating nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico, using its vast energy reserves to sustain the journey.
8. The Real Moby Dick
Marine mammal albinos have been part of literature, thanks to the legend of Moby Dick—the Great White Whale—and the infamous Captain Ahab. However, white whales aren’t just the stuff of myth. In 1991, a massive, 14-meter (45 ft) albino humpback whale, one of the larger baleen species, was first spotted off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Years later, a calf was seen migrating along a popular route that sees around 15,000 whales annually. Albino whales may have heightened sensitivity to light at the surface and are more vulnerable to predators. In another unusual turn, an albino orca was filmed off Russia’s coast in 2012. Since albino orcas are believed to have weakened immune systems, this 16-year-old orca’s discovery astounded scientists, as all previously known albino orcas were juveniles.
7. Bleached 'Bugs'
While we often associate albino creatures with vertebrates—such as birds, mammals, fish, or reptiles—no creature, regardless of size or complexity, is immune to lacking pigment. Albino arthropods are part of the wild spectrum of white creatures. One such rare specimen, an albino lobster, appears to have swum through bleach, though it is completely natural. A missing pigment gene has resulted in a total lack of melanin. Similarly, the discovery of an albino Powelliphanta snail—normally brown—was an unexpected find. This massive, slightly unsettling species from New Zealand is a carnivorous predator, preying on smaller animals that can’t escape its bite fast enough.
6. White Whale Shark
Whale sharks, like whales, can also suffer from color-depriving mutations. This particular specimen, the largest fish on Earth, is a complete albino and offers an entirely new interpretation of the term “great white shark.” The ethereal but gentle giant was discovered in 2008 in the waters off Darwin, an island in the Galapagos. Whale sharks primarily feed on macroplankton, sardines, and anchovies, and unlike more predatory sharks, they lack the large, dangerous teeth. Though they don’t pose a direct threat to humans, it’s hard to ignore the eerie presence of an albino fish over 10 meters (33 ft) long.
5. Dark Omens
In human mythology, ravens and vultures are often imposing figures, known for their dark plumage and somber symbolism. First Nations legends tell of a white raven that became soiled after grieving its lost mate on a muddy island. Over time, it regained its strength and will return at the end of the world to judge humanity under the guidance of the Great Spirit. While they are a common theme in stories, white ravens are real. I have personally photographed these birds in British Columbia, where they became quite the local celebrities. Just as real is the eerie albino turkey vulture, a scavenger native to North and South America. Lacking melanin, this bird’s black feathers are replaced by ghostly white plumage. Sadly, its diet of decaying meat can stain its otherwise pristine feathers.
4. White Alligator
While stories of white alligators lurking in New York’s sewers might be pure legend, the truth is that these albino alligators do exist. Normally, alligators are green, blending seamlessly into their swampy surroundings while they hunt for prey. However, albinism has created these otherworldly creatures that would be unlikely to survive in the wild. The real white alligator bears an uncanny resemblance to the mythic sewer-dwelling reptile. In fact, this albino may feel more at home in the shadows of a sewer than in the wide, open wetlands. The lack of pigment in its eyes alters the way light enters the iris, making the creature extremely sensitive to brightness. This condition of light sensitivity is a common trait in albinos, including humans.
3. Albino Gorilla
Albinism is not only a trait seen in humans, but also affects some of our closest animal relatives. For instance, members of the primate family, like gorillas, can also be born without pigmentation. Snowflake, the only albino western lowland gorilla ever documented in biological history, was born in the wild of Equatorial Guinea in 1964. He spent most of his 39 years at the Barcelona Zoo in Spain, where studies revealed that his rare condition was a result of inbreeding between a female gorilla and a male who turned out to be her uncle. Snowflake's lack of the typical dark pigmentation in his face and hair provided an unprecedented look at the strikingly human-like features of this remarkable primate species.
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2. White Panther
Black panthers are known for their menacing appearance, which comes from an abundance of melanin, the pigment responsible for the color of both humans and various animal species. However, there is a counterpart to the black panther in the form of the white panther, which is incredibly rare in nature. The Natural History Museum at Tring in the UK even showcases an albino leopard. In fact, other large cats, such as jaguars and cougars, can also appear as white panthers. These animals can either be full albinos, lacking all pigment, or leucistic, which means they are missing various pigments but their eyes often remain unaffected—unlike true albinos.
1. Creatures of the White Night
Owls have long been revered as symbols of wisdom throughout history. These enigmatic, almost human-like birds of the night have also been considered omens of misfortune or even evil spirits, according to superstitions. When these already mysterious creatures are born with albinism, it only heightens their eerie reputation. The albino great horned owl, often referred to as the 'Flying Tiger,' is an extraordinary anomaly of nature. Similarly, albinism in bats creates an unsettling and rare spectacle—seeing a white bat fluttering through the night is one of the most ghostly encounters in the animal kingdom. Unlike many other albino species, white owls and pale bats are less likely to suffer from the sensitivity to sunlight commonly associated with albinism.
