The crocodile care center called Gatorland in the USA is home to some of the world’s rarest crocodiles. A new hatchling hatched in this facility attracted attention as one of the rarest examples of its kind. The new puppy has white skin and blue eyes.
White crocodile, not albino
Although this new crocodile appears to be albino at first glance, it actually has a much rarer condition. While there is a lack of melanin pigment in albinism, in this condition called leucism, there is a problem in the pigment-producing cells. That’s why crocodiles with leucism have white skin with a few colored scales and blue eyes. Albino crocodiles are known for their more yellowish skin color and pink eyes.
The cute cub was the first all-white alligator born since the first alligators with leucism were discovered in Louisiana 36 years ago, according to a statement shared by Gatorland on Facebook. Today, there are only 7 known live alligators with leucism in the world, and 3 of them are in Gatorland.
According to the news from the facility, the white cub and his other siblings are in good health. The length of the crocodiles was announced as 49 centimeters and their weight was 96 grams. The cub now lives in a shaded part of the facility called the “White Alligator Swamp,” which was created for other white alligators who are also light-sensitive. These creatures, which, unlike albinos, do not suffer from any other disease, although they cannot survive long in nature, they have a long and healthy life when they live under care.
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