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Australia’s albino animals

By AG STAFF • 15 August 2017

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White is a rare colour in nature and it’s not surprising the unusual pale hues found in people, animals and plants affected by albinism are romanticised in literature.

Albinism is manifestation of a gene mutation that disrupts the production of melanin, which colours eyes, skin, hair, fur and leaves. Without this pigment animals or plants default to white or colourless states.

This doesn’t mean, however, that all white or fair animals or people are albino. Polar bears, for example, carry fair genes, but not gene mutations that inhibit colour. Some animals also suffer from different disorders that affect their pigmentation to a different extent.

Even within albinism, there are varying degrees of colouration, ranging from coppery through to very white. And so it’s a common misnomer that all albinos have pink eyes; indeed some do, but some have blue and even hazel and brown eyes. Some plants are also only partially albino, producing either regular or random stripes or colour patchers. Other people and animals are only white at the warmest points on their bodies.

Here are some albino animals seen in Australia:

1. Koala

a white koala in a tree — An albino koala (*Phascolarctos cinereus*). *Image credit: Bill Kuffrey*

In the wild albino animals, like this koala, are much less likely to survive for a number of reasons. Being fair or white makes them vulnerable to predators, sunburn and cancer; they have a reduced ability to mate, so are likely to die before they get to pass on their genes.

2. Wallaby

an albino wallaby found on Tasmania — An albino wallaby. *Image credit: shutterstock*

Bruny Island off Tasmania’s south-eastern coast has also nurtured a population of albino wallabies, where their sheltered island life and remote population has meant they’ve managed to carve out a niche for themselves.

3. Bat

A bat and an albino bat. *Image credit: Tolga Bat Hospital*

A black bat and an albino bat at the Tolga Bat Hospital.

4. Kookaburra

an albino kookaburra — An albino blue-winged kookaburra (*Dacelo* *leachii*). *Image credit: Harry Kunz*

One of two extremely rare blue-winged albino kookaburras in Ravenshoe, believed to have been swept from their nests in a wild storm, at a wildlife sanctuary in 2010. The pair of native birds, renowned for their laughing cry, were found waterlogged at the base of a tree and rescued by a cattle farmer.

5. Magpie

An albino magpie (*Gymnorhina tibicen*). *Image credit: Brenda Aksionov*

This adorable little guy was spotted at Trowunna Wildlife Park in Tasmania.

6. Echidna

a white echidna — A white echidna (*Tachyglossus aculeatus*). *Image credit: Clem Carlon*

The rare colouring is manifestation of a gene mutation that disrupts the production of melanin, which colours eyes, skin, hair, fur and leaves. Without this pigment animals or plants default to white or colourless states. This echidna, despite being almost completely white, is referred to as ‘hyper-pigmented’ rather than ‘albino’.