Albino echidna

[vk4vfx]

For your interest ............. I am sure you will all find this interesting, this image was posted to me by a friend who lives in Jambaroo in New south wales.

I am aware it is a mutated gene that is responsible for its coloration (or it has consumed way to many white ants ) but I have never heard of nor seen this in an echidna before, the echidna's are pretty well protected from predation as in the predator soon gets "the point" from its impenetrable mass of spines but im sure it would have to have some disadvantage being of this color?

[nova707]

unless the echidna lives in a snowy enviroment, i would assume that it your be a disadvantage for it.

[plasmodesmata11]

well, it lacks pigments, which protect DNA from mutation by absorbing UV rays
so albinos want to dodge the sun, so it would be more disposed to developing cancer

[i_r_e_d]

So... What you guys are saying is... That if we transfer this echidna to the North Pole and start a colony of Polar Echidnas, then it wouldn't have a problem because it would camouflage with the snow and it would have minimal sun contact...

[JackBean]

But it will probably have a little problems because of the temperature To my knowledge, they live in hot areas, what's not much the case of North Pole, is it?

[i_r_e_d]

Ah monkey feathers!! You are right!!

[Endangered]

Actually it might be leucystic instead of an albino. Leucystic animals have a preponderance of white pigment and this is actually a more common genetic form to be seen in the wild since the critter is not at risk from UV rays.

If I ever get to visit the Arctic and find an frozen echidna stuck to my pac boot...I will know who to blame

[JackBean]

If I ever get to visit the Arctic and find an frozen echidna stuck to my pac boot...I will know who to blame

So, you say, that it produces some white pigment? What for pigment is that? Is that something similar to natural pigment or what?

[WhatsItsFace]

So... What you guys are saying is... That if we transfer this echidna to the North Pole and start a colony of Polar Echidnas, then it wouldn't have a problem because it would camouflage with the snow and it would have minimal sun contact...

This reminds me of the old saying "A white Elephant." Awesome idea, not good for much though

[JackBean]

What about white rhino?

[animemusic8]

there is no such as "white pigment" or "green pigment" ...does anybody want a debate about that???

anyway,there are a lot of disadvantages for being an albino... one of them is the lack of pigment makes the skin unusually sensitive to sunlight and thus susceptible to sunburn and also the visual problems.

[JackBean]

there's no green pigment???