<p>This rare albino gray kangaroo lives at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. </p>

This rare albino gray kangaroo lives at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark

Albino animals, explained

Albino animals don't have it easy; their whiteness makes them prime targets for predators.

Although rare in nature, albino animals have been spotted everywhere from the skies to the seas. These unique creatures have partial or complete loss of pigmentation, hence their pale skin tone compared to other members of their species. Even though the birth of an albino animal is considered a sacred or auspicious event in some cultures, research suggests that some albino animals have difficulty in the wild.

In mammals, albinism occurs when an individual inherits one or more mutated genes from both parents that interfere with the body’s production of melanin, the main pigment that determines the color of skin, fur, and eyes. The production of melanin occurs within melanocytes, specialized cells that are present but not fully

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