Colorless Creatures

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.