Albinism is a condition that can affect creatures of many different species. Well, to be more specific, it’s not one condition — it’s a group of conditions. But what they all share in common is that they result in a loss of pigment in the skin.
The main symptom of this and the one that’s most widely recognized is extremely light hair and skin. Individuals with albinism can’t produce normal amounts of pigment, so they may have white hair and light, delicate skin. Albinism can also affect the eyes, which are often very light blue.
However, albinism can also cause other more serious symptoms. Melanin (pigment in the skin) is an important part of the optic nerve’s development. This means many individuals with these conditions are blind or extremely nearsighted. They are more susceptible to skin cancer as well, making it important for them to take steps to protect their skin and eyes from the sun.
Albinism affects about one in 18,000 to 20,000 people, but it’s not limited to humans. It’s seen in almost any animal, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish. Here are 50 beautiful creatures of every variety with albinism.
1. This turtle that’s a spot of white in a sea of black
Seeing that one white spot in the mass of dark water and turtles is breathtaking. But the beautiful animal still has some dark spots on its shell.
2. This zebra that’s changing a classic look
We all heard the joke “What’s black and white and red all over?” when we were kids. But not every zebra is black and white. This beauty is one example.
3. A peacock that’s breathtaking for new reasons
Peacocks are known for their stunning beauty in a range of colors. But this peacock is just as beautiful for more than one reason. Half-albino, it has the classic peacock feathers on one side and pure white on the other.
4. This stunning white lion
Lions are called the King of the Jungle for many reasons, not the least of which is their classic beauty. But this lion is stunning without the traditional tawny fur.
5. This otherworldly reindeer
Can you imagine coming across this ghostly reindeer in the forest? You might think you’ve wandered into a fairy tale, and no wonder — it doesn’t look like it’s from the real world!
6. These (almost) twin lionesses
These two lionesses are almost carbon copies of one another, with one small aberration — one has traditional coloring and the other has albinism. But aside from that, they could be twins!
There are only a handful of albino alligators in the world, which makes this guy almost one-of-a-kind. But rare or not, there’s no denying this is a fascinating animal.
8. This supercool lobster
Lobsters are known for being dark brown or gray while still alive, then turning bright red when they’re cooked. This lobster has a totally unique look that’s neither of these options.
9. This ethereal humpback whale
Can you imagine seeing a whale swim beneath your boat, allowing you to experience its enormous majesty beneath the waves? Now imagine that it’s pure white. This must’ve been an amazing sight!
10. These snow-white deer
Albinism is genetic, so it’s not surprising that someone ran across a whole family of albino deer. But the effect is still amazing to see.
Is there anything cuter than a teeny hedgehog, with its tiny face and its wee little feet? Well, how about a pure white hedgehog that’s all that and more?
12. This powerful Doberman
The classic black Doberman is famous for its powerful and intimidating look, but it turns out, it has the exact same effect as an albino. It’s different but still striking!
13. This horse with mesmerizing blue eyes
This horse with albinism is breathtakingly beautiful, but we just can’t stop looking at those eyes. It’s unclear whether the horse is blind or has sight but either way, those eyes are totally unique.
14. This penguin that blends into the ice
Penguins are known for their “tuxedos.” The look is so iconic that human men wearing tuxedos are often compared to them. This penguin has a slightly different eveningn attire.
15. These cuddly albino kangaroos
This mother kangaroo passed her albinism down to her joey and the resemblance is — well, it’s just plain adorable. The two of them are sharing a cuddle, which makes this photo just too cute to bear.
16. This ivory-colored rhino
Rhinos are prized by poachers for their tusks, but they’re not made of ivory — they’re made of keratin, just like fingernails. This rhino has ivory of a different kind — its skin!
17. This not-so-tawny frogmouth
This odd-looking bird is called a tawny frogmouth, “tawny” meaning “orange-brown or yellow-brown.” However, its albinism is in interesting contrast to its name! This one is a white frogmouth, I guess.
18. This white-scaled snake
Albinism can affect animals of almost every species, including reptiles — like this striking white snake. It’s not often you see a snake with blue eyes!
19. This raccoon that doesn’t look much like his siblings
Raccoons are another example of animals with distinctive patterns, but this little guy with albinism doesn’t follow that path. It’s got a much more unique coat and pattern that lacks the classic bandit mask.
20. This delicate hummingbird
Hummingbirds often have bright rainbow patterns on their feathers, but somehow, this pure white one is just as beautiful. It’s also displaying the classic red eyes of many albino animals.
21. This fascinating squirrel
Squirrels are found across the world in red, black, or gray, but it’s not common to see a pure white one. This little guy isn’t overly fussed about his fur, though — he’s much more focused on finding some acorns.
22. This barely-striped tiger
Tigers are also known for their distinctive patterns, which have been replicated on everything from clothes to furniture and more. While this tiger doesn’t have the classic orange and black, it does have the striped tail.
This beautiful animal was spotted wandering through the woods, and frankly, that’s the place he belongs. Or so I am led to believe by fairy tales!
24. This crow that looks nothing like a crow
Crows’ whole “thing” is looking black and menacing, which is how they earned their reputation as beacons of death. This crow manages to look just as menacing without the dark feathers.
25. This shockingly white moose
If you thought moose couldn’t get any more unnerving, think again! This pure white beast might not look like its family members, but it still has size and strength on its side.
26. This eye-catching dolphin
Spotting this unique animal in the waves is something special, isn’t it? While it looks completely different from the classic silver on blue, it’s still just as beautiful.
27. This unique koala that doesn’t look much like its family
Koalas aren’t known for their pattern in the same way that giraffes or tigers are, but it’s still surprising to see one without distinctive patches of color. However, his white fur isn’t changing how this guy feels about eucalyptus.
28. This softshell turtle without its classic color
This softshell turtle might have a goofy-looking face, but that’s not the interesting thing about it. What’s more fascinating is that it’s not the classic dark turtle color. It looks downright ghostly!
29. This Northern Cardinal that’s missing its classic red and black stripes
Cardinals are known for their beautiful feathers of black, red, and white. But not this little guy — he’s happy just as he is with his pure white feathers.
30. This gorgeously unique seahorse going for a ride
Seahorses are fascinating creatures as is, with their beautiful appearance. In fact, they’re some of the most eye-catching animals in the ocean. This albino seahorse cuts an amazing image as it floats along the reef.
31. This baby elephant that’s one of a kind
This baby elephant might look different from its friends, but that’s not stopping it from having fun. Who cares about the color of your skin when there’s water to splash in?
32. This three-month-old pure white cockatiel
This beautiful cockatiel is only three months old, but it’s already cutting an impressive figure. That might be because it’s missing the classic white-and-yellow feather combo that most cockatiels have.
33. This sleepy albino rat
This little rat is showing off his pure white fur from head to toe. You can’t help but look at that adorable sleepy face before you notice all his white fur.
34. This bat that loves the dark even more than most.
Bats are naturally inclined to prefer dark spaces. For albinos, extremely bright light makes them uncomfortable. This bat must be in its element staying in the darkest cave.
35. This seal caught in a net in Nunavut
When some fishermen hauled in this albino seal off the coast of northern Canada, they were I for a shock. Its white skin blended in with the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean.
36. This ladybug that skipped being red
Few insects are more classically colored than the ladybug. Every little kid knows that red with black dots = a ladybug. But not for this one, which traded out red for white.
37. This breathtakingly beautiful moth
The person who spotted this pure white moth wasn’t sure if it was technically albino or simply a breed of moth they’d never seen before. Either way, those white wings are absolutely beautiful!
38. This pure white groundhog on the hunt for some grub
If you’ve never seen a white groundhog before, here’s your chance. This little guy was spotted patrolling the ground for something good to eat — and it wasn’t exactly hard to see him.
39. This adorable albino puppy with his brother right behind
This sweet little puppy is blind, as many animals with albinism are. Luckily for him, he’s got his brother right on his tail, always ready to help him.
40. This sweet albino dog from Moscow
This little dog showed up unexpectedly at a property in Moscow, Russia, shocking everyone with his pure white fur and beautiful eyes. He was nursed back to health and is now a beloved pet.
41. This gorgeous deep-sea manta ray
Manta rays are undeniably beautiful, floating through the deep sea like fans. This one is even more amazing to see once it was spotted!
42. This pure white porcupine
Porcupines are usually deep brown, which lets them blend into the undergrowth in the forest. This little guy might not be very good at blending, but he’s still super cute!
43. This snail that looks like a white stone
At first glance, this albino snail looks like it lives under a big white rock. But that’s not a piece of limestone, it’s its own shell!
44. An albino catfish hunting for food in Tennessee
This albino catfish was found in a private pond in Tennessee. The property owner had no idea it was there until it made its abrupt appearance while looking for food.
45. A shaggy white buffalo grazing in a field
This albino buffalo’s fur makes it really apparent just how thick and textured its coat is. No wonder they manage to stay so warm on chilly nights in the field.
46. This beautiful Eastern Screech Owl that might trick you into thinking it’s a ghost
Many cultures have stories comparing white owls to ghosts or spirits. Looking at this lovely white creature, it’s easy to understand where those stories came from!
47. This fawn that matches the sneaker right beside it
This teeny-tiny fawn has such beautiful white fur, and look, there’s a white sneaker for comparison! You can see just how pristine both of them are.
48. This beautiful flamingo that’s a bit less pink than its friends
Flamingos are known for pretty much one thing: being bright pink. This one might not cut the same image as its friends, but it’s still gorgeous to see.
49. This giraffe that has its own unique pattern
There are a couple of different kinds of giraffes, each with its unique fur pattern. They’re all some combination of brown and yellow, but not this eye-catching animal.
50. This gorilla that has white fur and a colorful attitude
This gorilla looks totally unique, making it stand out among its band. I get the feeling it knows how cool it looks and is really digging it.
Albinism is a condition that can affect creatures of many different species. Well, to be more specific, it’s not one condition — it’s a group of conditions. But what they all share in common is that they result in a loss of pigment in the skin.
The main symptom of this and the one that’s most widely recognized is extremely light hair and skin. Individuals with albinism can’t produce normal amounts of pigment, so they may have white hair and light, delicate skin. Albinism can also affect the eyes, which are often very light blue.
However, albinism can also cause other more serious symptoms. Melanin (pigment in the skin) is an important part of the optic nerve’s development. This means many individuals with these conditions are blind or extremely nearsighted. They are more susceptible to skin cancer as well, making it important for them to take steps to protect their skin and eyes from the sun.
Albinism affects about one in 18,000 to 20,000 people, but it’s not limited to humans. It’s seen in almost any animal, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish. Here are 50 beautiful creatures of every variety with albinism.
