Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Everytime I look up the definition of albino it says lacking all pigment.Why is it thrown around so loosely in the reptile world.amelinstic from what I understand is lacking black pigment which is not albino.

In short - albinism is the inability the pigment melanin. There are many pigments that are unaffected by albinism.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

In every scientific paper I have read and I am not talking about the ones by reptile breeders.A true albino has N0 pigment and almost always dies.

Albinism is simply the lack of melanin. In snakes, the term amelanism and albinism are pretty much interchangeable. Leucism is the total lack of pigmentation of any sort...And no, "true albinos" in other species do not always die (although the lack of melanin in diurnal species certainly causes lots of issues with regard to vision, sun exposure, etc.)

i see plenty of them - they look pretty darn healthy and jonnie winter (yes i know he does not look healthy but that was his due to his healthy appetite for drugs!) is getting pretty old at this point.

i see albino squirrels, dogs (mice and rats, hello...) - all look healthy.

your reading material, or your reading, is not in keeping with what i see. maybe you read how albinos are easy prey for predators? such as a hawk easily spotting a white squirrel or hunter or mtn lion a white deer?

LOL@Johnny Winters. Ya know, for a 60 some year old hard core old time rocker he don't look all that bad. I think all them tats cover the wrinkles

Quig

Albinos in the Mammal world almost always means lack of any pigmentation. This is mostly due to the fact nearly if not all mammals, don't have any other pigment besides melamine. Birds, fish and reptiles contain other pigments besides melamine hence why albinos are not all white, most are yellow or red with white areas (depending on the natural pigments occuring in that animal).

dictionary definitions though, show albino as meaning:

Albinism: A group of genetic disorders in which there is partial or total lack of the pigment melanin in the eyes, skin, and hair. www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2185

Albinism:An organism lacking normal pigmentation or coloration. Animals that are albinos lack pigmentation due to a congenital absence of melanin. In humans and other mammals, albinos have white hair, pale skin, and usually pinkish eyes. Plants that are albinos lack normal amounts of chlorophyll or other pigments.
dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=albinism&ia=ahsd

Amelanistic: "Albino" in the conventional sense; lacking all black pigment.
This is a widespread mutation in several species. Amelanistic animals are
often red or yellowish, instead of white like albino mammals; this is because
amelanism does not affect the red and yellow pigments, or indeed any pigments
other than melanin.
www.faqs.org/faqs/pets/herp-faq/part1/section-11.html

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PHLdyPayne

Ive heard Anery or Axanthics called Black Albino
Albino may categorize all pigment challenged critters
But Amelanistic would better describe the common T-Negative animals