Leucism facts for kids

Leucistic white lions owe their colouring to a recessive allele. Note the eyes and lips remain the normal colour.

Leucism is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin.

Images for kids

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  This white horse owes its coloring to a dominant allele (dominant white).

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  A leucistic rock pigeon. Both the eyes and legs are still of the normal colour.

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  Leucistic Texas rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta)

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  Leucistic common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

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  Leucistic Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus)

See also

In Spanish: Leucismo para niños