Have You Ever Seen a White Alligator?
White alligators are among the rarest of the species. While they do come in two forms – albino or leucistic – it’s the leucistic alligators that are especially unique. It is estimated that among the 5 million alligators that are in the United States, only about 12 of them have these unusual genetic traits. This species of alligator is not endangered, but does require some special care.
Leucistic alligators have primarily come from parts of Florida and Georgia, and the greatest population of them in captivity exists in Central Florida’s Gatorland. The small population of these alligators both in the wild and in captivity can be attributed to their recessive genetic traits, as well as issues of survival. Researchers suggest that due to their unique coloring, these alligators are more likely to be targeted by other predators and humans alike. Additionally, due to the limited pigmentation in their skin, they require protection from the sun’s harsh rays.
Gatorland in Florida has four leucistic alligators, with one that weighs as much as 500 lbs and the rest not far behind. Because of their sheer size and differences from the other alligators they are all housed individually without contact with others of their species. Leucistic alligators are not albino, they do have some pigmentation in their tails and on their skin, and another more startling trait which is their piercing blue eyes.
Have you ever seen a white alligator?
Image Via: Flickr User BigBen212 With a Creative Commons License
