Albino Turtle: Rare and Fascinating Creature of the Sea
An Eastern India farmer discovered this rare albino turtle while working his fields and promptly handed it to conservation officials for care. Experts consider this unique albino species extremely rare.
Albino and leucistic marine turtle hatchlings are rarely observed in the wild, making it hard for predators to spot them without camouflage, and may not reach adulthood (Perrault & Coppenrath 2019; Sonmez & Ozdilek 2011).
One leucistic green turtle was recently spotted on Lady Elliot Island off Australia.
What is Albinism?
Albino or leucistic whales, penguins, giraffes, and tigers have been documented; but Hope the sea turtle is the first recorded albinism case ever.
Albinism is caused by a genetic mutation that causes animals to shed melanin pigmentation resulting in them appearing white; this condition affects birds, mammals, reptiles, and humans alike.
OCA1, or Tyrosinase-related Albinism, occurs when the gene controlling the enzyme Tyrosinase becomes inactive.
Tyrosinase normally turns amino acid tyrosine into pigment for skin, eyes, and hair pigmentation; without it however, hair and skin appear blond or yellow/orange with pinkish or reddish eyes (Restrepo & Valverde 2019).
Finding one albino or leucistic hatchling among many clutches during the early incubation stage can be fairly common; it’s much rarer for there to be multiple abnormally pigmented turtles in one nest – similar to a nest of loggerhead turtles in Brazil that produced 22 albino hatchlings from among 98 total (Marcovaldi et al 1995).
These turtles can still become full-size adults and live long lives, though they’re more prone to predators and predation due to a lack of protective coloration; moreover, their unique appearance often causes rejection among other members of their species.
How do Albinos look?
Albino turtles stand out with their white skin and striking eyes of various shades of red. Additionally, their orange-tinted shells make them very striking creatures.
As they age, albino turtles’ vibrant coloring may fade due to mutating melanin pigmentation in their bodies causing production to stop producing its original hues.
You might see young albino turtles with more yellow or orange in their skin tones that turn more neutral as they age.
People interested in owning an albino turtle typically opt for the Lemon Lime Albino Slider Turtle (Lissemys punctate).
This remarkable species requires minimal care, has a long lifespan, and will make an invaluable lifelong friend!
These turtles are very active creatures who spend most of their time in the water.
They love stacking upon one another and basking in the sunshine, but they will also spend time eating and exploring their environment.
As far as their diets are concerned, you can offer aquatic vegetation, fish, and insects as food sources – just take care when feeding wild insects as these may contain thiaminase enzymes which could cause vitamin B1 deficiency in turtles.
How do Albinos live?
Are you an admirer of turtles, and dreamed of owning an albino slider turtle? Our Lemon Lime Albino Slider Turtles will add beauty and vibrancy to any aquarium, captivating with vibrant colors and striking features that are sure to turn heads.
Additionally, this exceptional pet offers a long lifespan, educational value, and low maintenance needs – an irresistibly attractive combination!
The genetic mutation that leads to albinism in animals works differently when applied to reptiles than it does to mammals, birds, or humans.
Albino reptiles usually retain some pigment that gives their skin its distinctive reddish, yellow, or pink colors – this means even though their eyes and shells remain white, there will still be some color present!
These rare turtles will make an amazing addition to any home or office and bring an amazing sense of wonder when seen by visitors.
Additionally, these rare species make excellent educational pets in schools and museums due to their distinctive looks and behavior – our turtles live over 30 years when provided with the appropriate environment and care.
Aquatic turtles are highly manageable creatures that require only basic care in terms of habitat setup: an ample tank with a basking area, heat source, and filter system – as well as a healthy diet of aquatic plants, insects, and fish! To maximize success and ensure survival.
Why are Albinos rare?
Albinos differ from animals with leucism in that they lack all melanin pigmentation, making them much more visible to predators and making camouflage important in animal survival.
Sea turtle hatchlings in particular need protection as their development can be easily threatened by any predator that comes along, especially albinos who lack camouflage to remain hidden from predation.
Manoj Kumar Vittapu and Shravan Kumar Poshetty recently documented an albino Indian flap shell turtle (Lissemys punctate).
It is the first instance ever documented in its natural environment in Telangana, southern India.
Buddi Laxmi Narayana from Nehru Zoological Park confirmed that this hatchling indeed is albino.
Though its beauty may be stunning, albino turtles’ coloration also poses a considerable threat to their survival.
Being more visible to predators means they will likely be targeted more often than their darker counterparts; furthermore, due to a lack of melanin in their eyes and skin, they could experience sunburn while basking on beaches reducing life expectancy significantly.
Studies have also demonstrated how hatchling morphology can determine their survival rate in the wild, with larger hatchlings more likely to evade gape-limited predators and take larger prey items more effectively than smaller ones.
Albinnism may counteract this advantage by making hatchlings more easily identifiable to human observers.