RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian biologists have found an extremely rare example of an albino dolphin among an endangered species that lives off the southern coast of South America.
The research group, based at Univille university in Santa Catarina, said Thursday that it was the first recorded instance of an albino in the pontoporia blainvillei species, a very shy type of dolphin that rarely jumps out of the water. It’s known in Brazil as Toninha and in Argentina and Uruguay as the La Plata or Franciscana dolphin.
Camilla Meirelles Sartori, the lead biologist of Project Toninhas, said she first saw the white calf with pinkish fins at the end of October. Her group photographed him in early November.
“We were surprised, shocked,” Sartori said. “It’s very small, and the color is really different. We didn’t know what it was at first.”
Sartori said the baby was with an adult, probably its mother. The young live on their mother’s milk until they are six months old and remain dependent on the adult until they’re a year old.
The species is endangered. Its dolphins have long, thin snouts and get easily tangled in fishing nets. They can drown or die of stress if not quickly released, Sartori said.
Since Herman Melville created the albino whale Moby Dick in 1851, rare albino marine mammals have held a special fascination.
Read more here ...
Showing posts with label albino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label albino. Show all posts
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Four 'ugly' mutant albino turtles donated to aquarium
Four mutant albino turtles that have been donated to an aquarium are set to be 'heroes in a soft shell', with their new owners considering naming them after the legendary Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles.
Staff at the centre are now considering naming the foursome Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael after the animated series Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles.
The Chinese soft-shelled turtles were handed in to the Blue Reef Aquarium by a university student who was moving out of the city and felt unable to look after them any longer. (We like to believe this is because the turtles spent their days battling the evil Krang and his sidekick Shredder.)
Blue Reef's Lindsay Holloway said: 'With their soft shells, extremely long neck and tube-like nostrils which they use like a snorkel they are definitely one of the world's most unusual species of turtle.
'Some people say they are ugly but I think they're adorable.
'The fact that these individuals are also albino makes them even more peculiar to look at.'
The turtles, which are albino through genetic mutation, are thought to be five years old and are expected to live till they are 30. They will be added to an open-top freshwater display of giant carp.
'Once fully grown they can reach up to 30 centimetres in length and will provide a fascinating new addition to our giant carp display.'
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/830278-four-mutant-albino-turtles-donated-to-aquarium#ixzz1ce5hG424
Staff at the centre are now considering naming the foursome Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael after the animated series Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles.
The Chinese soft-shelled turtles were handed in to the Blue Reef Aquarium by a university student who was moving out of the city and felt unable to look after them any longer. (We like to believe this is because the turtles spent their days battling the evil Krang and his sidekick Shredder.)
Blue Reef's Lindsay Holloway said: 'With their soft shells, extremely long neck and tube-like nostrils which they use like a snorkel they are definitely one of the world's most unusual species of turtle.
'Some people say they are ugly but I think they're adorable.
'The fact that these individuals are also albino makes them even more peculiar to look at.'
The turtles, which are albino through genetic mutation, are thought to be five years old and are expected to live till they are 30. They will be added to an open-top freshwater display of giant carp.
'Once fully grown they can reach up to 30 centimetres in length and will provide a fascinating new addition to our giant carp display.'
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/830278-four-mutant-albino-turtles-donated-to-aquarium#ixzz1ce5hG424
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Albino lobster among catch of unusual species
A “ONE in 100 million” albino lobster, a snipe eel and a wreckfish are among a medley of unusual marine species caught by Irish fishermen over several weeks.
A separate lobster with two crusher claws instead of one has also been landed, along with a sea lamprey, according to Sea Fisheries Protection Authority officers Siubhán Ní Churraidhín and Declan MacGabhann.
The female white/albino lobster, named “Victoria” by her captors, was caught by Declan Clinton and crew on the Virtuous , while fishing for prawns some 34 miles east of Clogherhead, Co Louth, and landed into Howth, Co Dublin, on Thursday night.
Experts estimate there is a one in 100 million chance of making such a catch, according to Mr MacGabhann, who says “Victoria” is only the fifth albino lobster recorded in the last century in Irish waters.
Earlier this year an orange lobster – named “Billy” after the infamous Dutch king – was landed by Séamus Kirk of Clogherhead.
Local fisherman quipped at the time that the xanthochromic lobster was reacting to the election of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in the Louth constituency, and heading North.
It had a 30 in a million chance of being caught, Mr MacGabhann told The Irish Times .
“Victoria” is on display at the Sea Life centre in Bray, Co Wicklow, while “Billy” is attracting as much interest as the new resident penguins at the Mara Beo aquarium in Dingle, Co Kerry. A bright blue lobster (one in three million) was found earlier this month off the Clare coast by fisherman Gerry Sweeney.
Not to be outdone, the west coast has also created a few new records.
A male lobster with normal rusty red pigmentation but with two crusher claws instead of one has been found in a pot by currach skipper Mattie Conneely off Rossaveal. It has been donated to Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill.
US marine scientists writing of this phenomenon in the Journal of Experimental Zoology said that only one of the paired crushers behaves as a normal crusher.
“The other claw has only the appearance of a crusher claw but behaves as a cutter claw,” marine expert at the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, Declan Quigley, has said.
Ms Ní Churraidhín, officer with the authority at Rossaveal, has been inundated with other specimens in the past couple of weeks, including a snipe eel caught on the Porcupine Bank by Ray Healy and Paul Conneely of the Maria Magdalena III .
The snipe eel ( Nemichthys scolopaceus ) was first recorded in Irish waters in May 1935, according to Mr Quigley, and there are only 27 known records of it here to date. He notes that their size may allow them to slip through the mesh of trawls, and they could also be discarded as having no commercial value.
A wreckfish and an unusual crustacean with no eyes, which may be a polychelid lobster, were also caught by Seánín Ned Ó Flatharta of the Glór na dTonn fishing vessel.
The wreckfish ( Polyprion americanus ) was caught on the Porcupine. The deep-water species inhabits caves and shipwrecks – hence its name. The Galway vessel Maggie C recorded a similar specimen a year ago.
The wreckfish was bought by Stephane Griesbach of Gannet Fishmongers and sold on to Oscar’s restaurant in Galway city, according to Ms Ní Churraidhín.
The sea lamprey was found attached to trawl doors of the Sean Oisín fishing vessel while also working on the Porcupine, according to Ms Ní Churraidhín. The vessel has just completed a survey for prawns on the bank.
Lampreys, which are often found in rivers, are regarded as very rare so far offshore, she says.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0813/1224302379306.html
A separate lobster with two crusher claws instead of one has also been landed, along with a sea lamprey, according to Sea Fisheries Protection Authority officers Siubhán Ní Churraidhín and Declan MacGabhann.
The female white/albino lobster, named “Victoria” by her captors, was caught by Declan Clinton and crew on the Virtuous , while fishing for prawns some 34 miles east of Clogherhead, Co Louth, and landed into Howth, Co Dublin, on Thursday night.
Experts estimate there is a one in 100 million chance of making such a catch, according to Mr MacGabhann, who says “Victoria” is only the fifth albino lobster recorded in the last century in Irish waters.
Earlier this year an orange lobster – named “Billy” after the infamous Dutch king – was landed by Séamus Kirk of Clogherhead.
Local fisherman quipped at the time that the xanthochromic lobster was reacting to the election of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in the Louth constituency, and heading North.
It had a 30 in a million chance of being caught, Mr MacGabhann told The Irish Times .
“Victoria” is on display at the Sea Life centre in Bray, Co Wicklow, while “Billy” is attracting as much interest as the new resident penguins at the Mara Beo aquarium in Dingle, Co Kerry. A bright blue lobster (one in three million) was found earlier this month off the Clare coast by fisherman Gerry Sweeney.
Not to be outdone, the west coast has also created a few new records.
A male lobster with normal rusty red pigmentation but with two crusher claws instead of one has been found in a pot by currach skipper Mattie Conneely off Rossaveal. It has been donated to Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill.
US marine scientists writing of this phenomenon in the Journal of Experimental Zoology said that only one of the paired crushers behaves as a normal crusher.
“The other claw has only the appearance of a crusher claw but behaves as a cutter claw,” marine expert at the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, Declan Quigley, has said.
Ms Ní Churraidhín, officer with the authority at Rossaveal, has been inundated with other specimens in the past couple of weeks, including a snipe eel caught on the Porcupine Bank by Ray Healy and Paul Conneely of the Maria Magdalena III .
The snipe eel ( Nemichthys scolopaceus ) was first recorded in Irish waters in May 1935, according to Mr Quigley, and there are only 27 known records of it here to date. He notes that their size may allow them to slip through the mesh of trawls, and they could also be discarded as having no commercial value.
A wreckfish and an unusual crustacean with no eyes, which may be a polychelid lobster, were also caught by Seánín Ned Ó Flatharta of the Glór na dTonn fishing vessel.
The wreckfish ( Polyprion americanus ) was caught on the Porcupine. The deep-water species inhabits caves and shipwrecks – hence its name. The Galway vessel Maggie C recorded a similar specimen a year ago.
The wreckfish was bought by Stephane Griesbach of Gannet Fishmongers and sold on to Oscar’s restaurant in Galway city, according to Ms Ní Churraidhín.
The sea lamprey was found attached to trawl doors of the Sean Oisín fishing vessel while also working on the Porcupine, according to Ms Ní Churraidhín. The vessel has just completed a survey for prawns on the bank.
Lampreys, which are often found in rivers, are regarded as very rare so far offshore, she says.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0813/1224302379306.html
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Twin kangaroos
Salt and Pepper, a pair of newborn non identical twin kangaroos born in Australia, are being cared for by a zoo. According to a zoologist, the twin joeys were a "one in a million" birth. He said: "It's rare enough that twin joeys are born, and to have one of those an albino is very uncommon".
Saturday, June 4, 2011
All-white moose sighted near Delta Junction
by Tim Mowry / tmowry@newsminer.com
May 27, 2011
FAIRBANKS — The white moose that has been seen kicking around Delta Junction the past two years is evidently still kicking.
Jacob White was on the Tanana River in his riverboat Tuesday night when he saw the moose on the bank of the river in roughly the same area it was seen by boaters last fall.
“I was just cruising up the river,” White said. “I saw it from about a half mile away. I thought it was a horse for a second. Then it was like, ‘Wait a second; that’s an albino moose.’”
White snapped some photos of the all-white moose, which his wife, Ana, posted on her Facebook page.
“I wish I had gotten better pictures,” White said.
While there has been some debate as to whether the moose is a true albino or not, White said the moose had pink eyes and a pink nose.
Albino moose are not common, but they occasionally appear as the result of a double recessive gene passed through generations, according to state wildlife biologists.
The white moose, which appears to be a cow, was first spotted in Delta a little more than a year and a half ago as a young calf with its mother, a normal-colored, brown cow. Since then, it has been spotted several times in the same general area around Tanana Loop Extension and Jack Warren Road. Before the latest sighting and pictures taken by White, it had been several months since the last sighting.
“She’s within 10 miles of where she was seen last year,” White said, not wanting to divulge the specific location to avoid hordes of sightseers who might harass the animal. “She’s out feeding on some grasses on the Tanana River. She’s looking pretty good. We’re glad it’s still running around.”
Dave Davenport, a technician at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Delta Junction, said “chances are good” that it’s the same white moose that has been spotted around Delta Junction for the past year and a half.
Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - All white moose sighted near Delta Junction
http://newsminer.com/bookmark/13478793-All-white-moose-sighted-near-Delta-Junction
May 27, 2011
FAIRBANKS — The white moose that has been seen kicking around Delta Junction the past two years is evidently still kicking.
Jacob White was on the Tanana River in his riverboat Tuesday night when he saw the moose on the bank of the river in roughly the same area it was seen by boaters last fall.
“I was just cruising up the river,” White said. “I saw it from about a half mile away. I thought it was a horse for a second. Then it was like, ‘Wait a second; that’s an albino moose.’”
White snapped some photos of the all-white moose, which his wife, Ana, posted on her Facebook page.
“I wish I had gotten better pictures,” White said.
While there has been some debate as to whether the moose is a true albino or not, White said the moose had pink eyes and a pink nose.
Albino moose are not common, but they occasionally appear as the result of a double recessive gene passed through generations, according to state wildlife biologists.
The white moose, which appears to be a cow, was first spotted in Delta a little more than a year and a half ago as a young calf with its mother, a normal-colored, brown cow. Since then, it has been spotted several times in the same general area around Tanana Loop Extension and Jack Warren Road. Before the latest sighting and pictures taken by White, it had been several months since the last sighting.
“She’s within 10 miles of where she was seen last year,” White said, not wanting to divulge the specific location to avoid hordes of sightseers who might harass the animal. “She’s out feeding on some grasses on the Tanana River. She’s looking pretty good. We’re glad it’s still running around.”
Dave Davenport, a technician at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Delta Junction, said “chances are good” that it’s the same white moose that has been spotted around Delta Junction for the past year and a half.
Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - All white moose sighted near Delta Junction
http://newsminer.com/bookmark/13478793-All-white-moose-sighted-near-Delta-Junction
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Cub's all white now
 |
| Casper was found starving to death in Flackwell Heath |
By Daily Express reporter
THIS rare “one in a million” white fox cub has been nursed back from the brink of death on a diet of dog food.
The four-week-old cub, named Casper after the all-white cartoon ghost, was found starving to death in Flackwell Heath near High Wycombe, Bucks.
He was cared for at St Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital in Bucks where staff now plan to give the cub a home for life.
“We managed to save him just in time and he’s doing great now,” said Les Stocker, founder of the hospital.
“Casper is so rare he has got to be one in a million.
“In 30 years, I’ve only ever heard of one other white fox and that had been shot and stuffed!
“I don’t think we’ll release him back into the wild – we don’t want him to get shot.
“We plan to build him a special fox enclosure as he really is special.”
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/244788/Cub-s-all-white-nowCub-s-all-white-now
Thursday, April 21, 2011
It's all white to be a rare sight in the bush
 |
| A standout ... one of the albino wallaroos that has been spotted at Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains. Photo: Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa |
Nor is it a giant white rabbit on its way to a tea party.
It is, in fact, a rare albino wallaroo, one of three that have been delighting staff and visitors at the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa.
"We've had sightings of one mature albino wallaroo on the property since opening 18 months ago, but to have two more spotted on the property is incredibly rare and exciting for us and our guests," the resort's general manager Joost Heymeijer said.
The resort's field guides have noticed the albino wallaroos are more timid and less trusting of humans than their grey brothers and sisters, and wait until it is darker to come out to feed.
The education program co-ordinator at Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside, Peter Spradbrow, said albinism is a rare condition where the skin, hair and eyes lack the pigment that gives them colour.
It is observed across many animal species, but in the wild it is difficult for an albino creature to reach adulthood.
''Albino animals are particularly at risk of predation because they stand out from their environment,'' Mr Spradbrow said.
And, to make matters worse, they suffer from skin cancers and other skin diseases because they lack the pigment which protects them from UV radiation.
Albinism often shows up when both parents pass on the albinism gene. Some individuals who look normal carry the gene but are not albino.
Featherdale has albino laughing kookaburras, blue-tongue lizards, common wallaroos and tammar wallabies. ''The weirdest example of an albino that I have ever seen is an albino red-bellied black-snake,'' Mr Spradbrow said.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/its-all-white-to-be-a-rare-sight-in-the-bush-20110416-1dio1.html
(Via Chad Arment)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
White elephant discovery 'a positive omen' for Burma
 |
The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old. Photo: AP |
Published: 10:59AM BST 25 Sep 2010
The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old.
The newspaper, a mouthpiece for the ruling junta, hailed the elephant's capture as a sign the country will be peaceful and free from all dangers, and its people will enjoy greater prosperity and progress.
"It is auspicious that a rare white elephant emerged at a time when Myanmar was going through a democratic transition and the elections will be held peacefully and successfully," it said.
White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Burma, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations.
They were normally kept and pampered by monarchs and considered a symbol of royal power and prosperity.
Burma's military rulers, like many of the country's citizens, are said to be particularly superstitious.
The Nov 7 general elections will be the first in 20 years.
The National League for Democracy party of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won the last polls but was not allowed to take power by the military. It is boycotting this year's vote, charging that the election rules are unfair and undemocratic.
The New Light of Myanmar said the elephant's capture will ensure that peace, stability and prosperity will continue under the new elected government, explaining that white elephants only emerge in places where the practice of Buddhism flourishes and rulers govern justly.
It said that according to ancient treatises, it is hard to find even a single white elephant among a thousand, but five of the rare beasts have emerged from 2001 to 2010, and the latest discovery is a matter of "national pride."
The country's fourth white elephant, a 38-year-old female captured in the jungles of Rakhine state in June, was given a lavish welcome ceremony when it was taken to the administrative capital of Naypyitaw.
Three other white elephants caught earlier are kept in a special park in Yangon, where they live in an enclosure with spiralled pavilions, a man-made waterfall, ponds and trees.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/8024818/White-elephant-discovery-a-positive-omen-for-Burma.html
See also: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Burma-finds-rare-white-elephant-in-western-forest-30138736.html
White elephant discovery 'a positive omen' for Burma
|
The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old. Photo: AP |
Published: 10:59AM BST 25 Sep 2010
The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old.
The newspaper, a mouthpiece for the ruling junta, hailed the elephant's capture as a sign the country will be peaceful and free from all dangers, and its people will enjoy greater prosperity and progress.
"It is auspicious that a rare white elephant emerged at a time when Myanmar was going through a democratic transition and the elections will be held peacefully and successfully," it said.
White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Burma, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations.
They were normally kept and pampered by monarchs and considered a symbol of royal power and prosperity.
Burma's military rulers, like many of the country's citizens, are said to be particularly superstitious.
The Nov 7 general elections will be the first in 20 years.
The National League for Democracy party of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won the last polls but was not allowed to take power by the military. It is boycotting this year's vote, charging that the election rules are unfair and undemocratic.
The New Light of Myanmar said the elephant's capture will ensure that peace, stability and prosperity will continue under the new elected government, explaining that white elephants only emerge in places where the practice of Buddhism flourishes and rulers govern justly.
It said that according to ancient treatises, it is hard to find even a single white elephant among a thousand, but five of the rare beasts have emerged from 2001 to 2010, and the latest discovery is a matter of "national pride."
The country's fourth white elephant, a 38-year-old female captured in the jungles of Rakhine state in June, was given a lavish welcome ceremony when it was taken to the administrative capital of Naypyitaw.
Three other white elephants caught earlier are kept in a special park in Yangon, where they live in an enclosure with spiralled pavilions, a man-made waterfall, ponds and trees.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/8024818/White-elephant-discovery-a-positive-omen-for-Burma.html
See also: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Burma-finds-rare-white-elephant-in-western-forest-30138736.html
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Rare albino 'devil crab' is caught off the Cornish coast
Friday, September 03, 2010A fisherman was stunned yesterday after snaring this "extremely rare" albino crab off the coast of Britain.
The all white crustacean – which has bright red eyes – was caught half a mile out to sea near Mylor in Cornwall.
Experts say it is a velvet swimming crab, which is also known as a devil crab.
The crab was snared by fisherman Cameron Henry and is being cared for at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay.
Spokesman David Waines said: "Albino crustaceans are extremely rare, however no one here has ever heard of an albino swimming crab.
"Normally these types of crab are a deep blue or purple colour so to get one like this is very unusual indeed.
"As well as being rare, white or albino crustaceans do not tend to survive for long in the wild as they rely on their natural camouflage to protect them from predators.
"However, devil crabs are renowned for their extremely aggressive behaviour and it may be that – in spite of being such an obvious target – this particular crab was able to fight off would-be hunters.
"Although they rarely exceed 10cms in length they will try and attack even the largest intruder – including humans – waving their claws violently from side to side."
Velvet swimming crabs get their name because their shells are covered with dense, velvety hair and they use their paddle-like hind legs to swim away from attackers.
They are found from northern Norway to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Rare-albino-devil-crab-caught-Cornish-coast/article-2601842-detail/article.html
See also: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8962000/8962960.stm
Rare albino 'devil crab' is caught off the Cornish coast
Friday, September 03, 2010A fisherman was stunned yesterday after snaring this "extremely rare" albino crab off the coast of Britain.
The all white crustacean – which has bright red eyes – was caught half a mile out to sea near Mylor in Cornwall.
Experts say it is a velvet swimming crab, which is also known as a devil crab.
The crab was snared by fisherman Cameron Henry and is being cared for at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay.
Spokesman David Waines said: "Albino crustaceans are extremely rare, however no one here has ever heard of an albino swimming crab.
"Normally these types of crab are a deep blue or purple colour so to get one like this is very unusual indeed.
"As well as being rare, white or albino crustaceans do not tend to survive for long in the wild as they rely on their natural camouflage to protect them from predators.
"However, devil crabs are renowned for their extremely aggressive behaviour and it may be that – in spite of being such an obvious target – this particular crab was able to fight off would-be hunters.
"Although they rarely exceed 10cms in length they will try and attack even the largest intruder – including humans – waving their claws violently from side to side."
Velvet swimming crabs get their name because their shells are covered with dense, velvety hair and they use their paddle-like hind legs to swim away from attackers.
They are found from northern Norway to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Rare-albino-devil-crab-caught-Cornish-coast/article-2601842-detail/article.html
See also: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8962000/8962960.stm
Rare albino swallow spotted in garden
3:47pm Monday 6th September 2010
A STARTLED couple spotted a rare albino visitor to the region when an all white swallow landed in their garden.
Angela Searle and Robert Metcalfe spotted the unusual swallow sitting on telephone wires at the rear of their home in Great Smeaton, near Darlington.
The couple have swallows nesting on their Church Cottage home but the albino bird seems to be an outsider.
Mr Metcalfe said: "Angela spotted it around 8.30am on Sunday, September 5, and shouted for me to have a look at it.
"I have never seen an albino swallow before. It was a young bird and it’s not one of those that is nesting on our house.
"We haven’t seen it since so it may have been killed. It was difficult to see when it was flying and I was surprised to see it.
"I think there is a one in 80,000 chance of there been an albino swallow. I have heard of one in Aberdeenshire."
RSPCA research shows that swallows are one of six birds most susceptible to albinism and there are records of albinism in over 160 species of British birds.
An RSPCA spokesman said: "In general albinos are very rare in the animal world.
"They’re rare genetically and in birds it makes them stand out more and it makes them more visible to predators."
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/thirsk/8374433.Rare_albino_swallow_spotted_in_garden/
A STARTLED couple spotted a rare albino visitor to the region when an all white swallow landed in their garden.
Angela Searle and Robert Metcalfe spotted the unusual swallow sitting on telephone wires at the rear of their home in Great Smeaton, near Darlington.
The couple have swallows nesting on their Church Cottage home but the albino bird seems to be an outsider.
Mr Metcalfe said: "Angela spotted it around 8.30am on Sunday, September 5, and shouted for me to have a look at it.
"I have never seen an albino swallow before. It was a young bird and it’s not one of those that is nesting on our house.
"We haven’t seen it since so it may have been killed. It was difficult to see when it was flying and I was surprised to see it.
"I think there is a one in 80,000 chance of there been an albino swallow. I have heard of one in Aberdeenshire."
RSPCA research shows that swallows are one of six birds most susceptible to albinism and there are records of albinism in over 160 species of British birds.
An RSPCA spokesman said: "In general albinos are very rare in the animal world.
"They’re rare genetically and in birds it makes them stand out more and it makes them more visible to predators."
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/thirsk/8374433.Rare_albino_swallow_spotted_in_garden/
Rare albino swallow spotted in garden
3:47pm Monday 6th September 2010
A STARTLED couple spotted a rare albino visitor to the region when an all white swallow landed in their garden.
Angela Searle and Robert Metcalfe spotted the unusual swallow sitting on telephone wires at the rear of their home in Great Smeaton, near Darlington.
The couple have swallows nesting on their Church Cottage home but the albino bird seems to be an outsider.
Mr Metcalfe said: "Angela spotted it around 8.30am on Sunday, September 5, and shouted for me to have a look at it.
"I have never seen an albino swallow before. It was a young bird and it’s not one of those that is nesting on our house.
"We haven’t seen it since so it may have been killed. It was difficult to see when it was flying and I was surprised to see it.
"I think there is a one in 80,000 chance of there been an albino swallow. I have heard of one in Aberdeenshire."
RSPCA research shows that swallows are one of six birds most susceptible to albinism and there are records of albinism in over 160 species of British birds.
An RSPCA spokesman said: "In general albinos are very rare in the animal world.
"They’re rare genetically and in birds it makes them stand out more and it makes them more visible to predators."
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/thirsk/8374433.Rare_albino_swallow_spotted_in_garden/
A STARTLED couple spotted a rare albino visitor to the region when an all white swallow landed in their garden.
Angela Searle and Robert Metcalfe spotted the unusual swallow sitting on telephone wires at the rear of their home in Great Smeaton, near Darlington.
The couple have swallows nesting on their Church Cottage home but the albino bird seems to be an outsider.
Mr Metcalfe said: "Angela spotted it around 8.30am on Sunday, September 5, and shouted for me to have a look at it.
"I have never seen an albino swallow before. It was a young bird and it’s not one of those that is nesting on our house.
"We haven’t seen it since so it may have been killed. It was difficult to see when it was flying and I was surprised to see it.
"I think there is a one in 80,000 chance of there been an albino swallow. I have heard of one in Aberdeenshire."
RSPCA research shows that swallows are one of six birds most susceptible to albinism and there are records of albinism in over 160 species of British birds.
An RSPCA spokesman said: "In general albinos are very rare in the animal world.
"They’re rare genetically and in birds it makes them stand out more and it makes them more visible to predators."
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/thirsk/8374433.Rare_albino_swallow_spotted_in_garden/
Monday, August 16, 2010
Albino starling spotted in Weymouth
9:00am Monday 16th August 2010By Joanna Davis
A COMMON garden variety of bird is proving a dazzling rare sight.
The pure white plumage of this starling caught residents’ eyes as it flew over Weymouth rooftops.
Bird experts say that a totally albino starling like this pale-feathered visitor is very unusual.
The bird was spotted in Littlemoor by residents Jan and Pat Hinton.
Jan, 53, said: “We always have a lot of starlings on our TV aerial.
“I’ve seen them for years but I’ve never seen a white starling before.
“I was in the garden one day and saw this one up on the roof. It stayed there for about 15 minutes.
“It did have a slight squabble with the others but it managed to hold its own and it was still there after they’d gone.”
Pat was so taken by the unusual bird that he ran indoors for his camera.
The RSPB’s Tony Whitehead said partial albino birds are a much more common sight.
“I often see birds that are partial albinos, we have a house sparrow in our garden at the moment with quite a few white feathers.
“But to see a bird such as this starling, that’s almost totally albino, is a lot more unusual.
“Trouble is, they do stand out a bit, so let’s keep our fingers crossed this one manages to avoid predators.”
Peter Morgan, deputy chairman of the Portland Bird Observatory, said a pure albino starling is a rarity.
“There’s a gene for albinoism in a large number of birds and it only comes out if both parents carry it.
“They don’t occur that frequently in starling populations and might struggle to survive.
“Sometimes their feathers aren’t as strong because the pigment is what makes the feathers stronger.”
But Mr Morgan doesn’t think that twitchers will come flocking to see the white sight.
“I don’t think it will get bird watchers going, sadly, but it will still be of interest to many people here,” he added.
Starlings have recently become red-list species, meaning that the RSPB classes their conservation importance as high. These species, which include the house sparrow and the cuckoo, have experienced a severe decline in UK breeding population over the last 25 years.
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8332178.Albino_starling_spotted_in_Weymouth/
(Via Jonathan McGowan)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Croc's whiter shade of pale has boaties looking twice
ANNIE SANSONFebruary 12th, 2010
A TERRITORY couple had a "one in a million" fishing trip on the weekend, when they caught a glimpse of a rare albino saltwater crocodile.
Belinda Trewartha and her fiance Peter Bellis were fishing with friends at a Top End river when they saw a shadow in the water and a head "popping up near the boat".
"We thought it was a fish, but then realised it was a crocodile head - and it was all white," the 29-year-old told the Northern Territory News.
"My fiance has been fishing on the river his whole life, we come here at least 20 times a year, but we've never seen anything like this."
Gallery: Croc Territory
Ms Trewartha said the crocodile disappeared in the water, but the fishermen spotted the 2.5m saltie again later in the day.
"It was laying on the bank and it was really white.
"It was a truly amazing sight - probably one of the most awesome things I have ever seen in the wild."
Ms Trewartha said she believed the reptile was an albino with no pigmentation.
"It looked a bit like the white croc (Snowy) at Crocosaurus Cove," she said.
There is another white-skinned crocodile on the Adelaide River. Guides on board the Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise have dubbed the 5m saltie Michael Jackson.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/02/12/123351_ntnews.html
Friday, December 11, 2009
Fat albino hedgehog put on diet
Snowball, left, currently weighs 1.5 kilograms, compared to a normal hedgehog who weighs about 500 grams. Photo: JEFF MOOREAn albino hedgehog has been put on a special diet after his weight ballooned to three times the size of a normal one.
By Chris Irvine
Published: 7:30AM GMT 11 Dec 2009
Snowball currently weighs 1.5 kilograms, compared to a normal hedgehog who weighs about 500 grams.
He was taken to St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire by a member of the public after experts were called in to help shed his extra weight.
He has been placed on a diet of low-fat kitten biscuits and are putting him through his paces with running and swimming sessions. He has so far lost 38 grams.
Les Stocker, the founder of St Tiggywinkles, told Sky News: "He was very, very fat. Hedgehogs just eat and eat and eat. If they have got food there, they will eat the lot.
"We may let him hibernate because that will help him lose weight. He’s got enough fat to survive hibernation and that might be the answer."
Snowball, who was taken to the hospital in October, will remain at St Tiggywinkles until the summer, when he will be released into a protected area for other albino headgehogs. Only one in every 10,000 hedgehogs is born with albinism, but the condition makes him particularly vulnerable to predators. The condition means they have no melanin pigment in their skin, eyes and spikes.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6783030/Fat-albino-hedgehog-put-on-diet.html
See video at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8409188.stm
Fat albino hedgehog put on diet
Snowball, left, currently weighs 1.5 kilograms, compared to a normal hedgehog who weighs about 500 grams. Photo: JEFF MOOREAn albino hedgehog has been put on a special diet after his weight ballooned to three times the size of a normal one.
By Chris Irvine
Published: 7:30AM GMT 11 Dec 2009
Snowball currently weighs 1.5 kilograms, compared to a normal hedgehog who weighs about 500 grams.
He was taken to St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire by a member of the public after experts were called in to help shed his extra weight.
He has been placed on a diet of low-fat kitten biscuits and are putting him through his paces with running and swimming sessions. He has so far lost 38 grams.
Les Stocker, the founder of St Tiggywinkles, told Sky News: "He was very, very fat. Hedgehogs just eat and eat and eat. If they have got food there, they will eat the lot.
"We may let him hibernate because that will help him lose weight. He’s got enough fat to survive hibernation and that might be the answer."
Snowball, who was taken to the hospital in October, will remain at St Tiggywinkles until the summer, when he will be released into a protected area for other albino headgehogs. Only one in every 10,000 hedgehogs is born with albinism, but the condition makes him particularly vulnerable to predators. The condition means they have no melanin pigment in their skin, eyes and spikes.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6783030/Fat-albino-hedgehog-put-on-diet.html
See video at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8409188.stm
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Pictured: Mythical white stag found in the forests of Gloucestershire
Photo: Ken Grindle. For full size pics click here.By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:07 AM on 07th December 2009
White stags have long been associated with mythology and legend, an elusive yet magnificent beast.
King Arthur was left frustrated by his attempts to capture one, as were the Kings and Queens of Narnia, who chased the creature through the woods and found themselves tumbling out of a wardrobe.
But photographer Ken Grindle has managed to get a little bit closer, taking this picture of the animal in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.
The majestic wild animal - long associated with mystery and good luck - was filmed by the wildlife enthusiast.
Ken, 66, has been filming and photographing wildlife in the area for the past six years - but had never seen a white stag.
'I was very surprised to see it,' he said.
'I was camped in a shelter and was really fortunate. It just strolled right in front of me and calmly wandered around.
'He is a beautiful creature and it's really nice to be able to show people who perhaps can't make it into woodland what beautiful animals roam out there.
'I was lucky to be able to get some footage of it as well as the battery on my camera was running out.
'I wasn't sure I'd actually got it until I got home.
'I take the pictures to share with everyone as a lot of people can't get out into the woods to see this.'
The Forest of Dean is thought to be home to an array of unusual and wild creatures including wild boar, big cats and white stags.
Retired builder Ken added: 'There's a lot of talk about big cats in the Forest and that really would be something to see.
'I managed to stand my ground when some wild boar came out into the path in front of me but it might be a bit different if I saw a big cat.'
Last year a white stag was spotted in the Scottish Highlands and was photographed by a member of a nature charity while she was on an expedition on the west coast.
Fran Lockhart, of the John Muir Trust, a charity which protects wild land, said she was "thrilled" to spot the majestic beast, which is closely identified with the unicorn.
In October 2007, a wild white stag was shot by poachers on the border between Devon and Cornwall, where horrified locals had known it by the name Snowy.
It was decapitated and its 300lb carcase found hanging from a tree in a yard.It is thought the stag's head, along with its antlers, had been claimed as a trophy and could be mounted and possibly sold for thousands of pounds.
White deer, closely identified with unicorns, have been potent figures in the mythology of many cultures.
It is said to be bad luck to kill one. According to the Scots legend, in 1128, David I, King of Scotland decided to go hunting on the Feast Day of the Holy Rood, against the wishes of his priest. While hunting he saw a huge white stag, or "hart", and while giving chase he was thrown from his horse.
The white hart charged forward to kill him, so David - son of Malcolm Canmore and St Margaret - called on God to save him. As the king grasped the hart's antlers, they miraculously turned in to a large cross, and the beast raised its head and vanished. Inspired by his vision, King David built a shrine to the Holy Rood - meaning Holy Cross - on the spot where the miracle occurred.
The ruin of Holyrood Abbey can still be seen today, at the foot of the Royal Mile next to Holyrood Palace. The White Hart Inn in Edinburgh's grassmarket, reputedly the oldest pub in the capital, took its name from the legend.
The Celts considered white stags to be messengers from the "other world" and their appearance was said to herald some profound change in the lives of those who encountered them.
In the Chronicles of Narnia, the White Stag is fabled to grant wishes to whoever catches him. And in the Arthurian legend, the white stag is the creature that can never be caught. King Arthur's repeatedly unsuccessful pursuit of the white stag represents mankind's quest for spiritual knowledge.
In Christianity a white stag was said to be instrumental in the conversion of the martyr Saint Eustace after he saw a vision of the animal that told him he would suffer for Christ.
See photos at: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1233644/Pictured-Mythical-white-stag-forests-Gloucestershire.html#ixzz0Z5jy7fMS
(Submitted by Liz R)
Pictured: Mythical white stag found in the forests of Gloucestershire
Photo: Ken Grindle. For full size pics click here.By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:07 AM on 07th December 2009
White stags have long been associated with mythology and legend, an elusive yet magnificent beast.
King Arthur was left frustrated by his attempts to capture one, as were the Kings and Queens of Narnia, who chased the creature through the woods and found themselves tumbling out of a wardrobe.
But photographer Ken Grindle has managed to get a little bit closer, taking this picture of the animal in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.
The majestic wild animal - long associated with mystery and good luck - was filmed by the wildlife enthusiast.
Ken, 66, has been filming and photographing wildlife in the area for the past six years - but had never seen a white stag.
'I was very surprised to see it,' he said.
'I was camped in a shelter and was really fortunate. It just strolled right in front of me and calmly wandered around.
'He is a beautiful creature and it's really nice to be able to show people who perhaps can't make it into woodland what beautiful animals roam out there.
'I was lucky to be able to get some footage of it as well as the battery on my camera was running out.
'I wasn't sure I'd actually got it until I got home.
'I take the pictures to share with everyone as a lot of people can't get out into the woods to see this.'
The Forest of Dean is thought to be home to an array of unusual and wild creatures including wild boar, big cats and white stags.
Retired builder Ken added: 'There's a lot of talk about big cats in the Forest and that really would be something to see.
'I managed to stand my ground when some wild boar came out into the path in front of me but it might be a bit different if I saw a big cat.'
Last year a white stag was spotted in the Scottish Highlands and was photographed by a member of a nature charity while she was on an expedition on the west coast.
Fran Lockhart, of the John Muir Trust, a charity which protects wild land, said she was "thrilled" to spot the majestic beast, which is closely identified with the unicorn.
In October 2007, a wild white stag was shot by poachers on the border between Devon and Cornwall, where horrified locals had known it by the name Snowy.
It was decapitated and its 300lb carcase found hanging from a tree in a yard.It is thought the stag's head, along with its antlers, had been claimed as a trophy and could be mounted and possibly sold for thousands of pounds.
White deer, closely identified with unicorns, have been potent figures in the mythology of many cultures.
It is said to be bad luck to kill one. According to the Scots legend, in 1128, David I, King of Scotland decided to go hunting on the Feast Day of the Holy Rood, against the wishes of his priest. While hunting he saw a huge white stag, or "hart", and while giving chase he was thrown from his horse.
The white hart charged forward to kill him, so David - son of Malcolm Canmore and St Margaret - called on God to save him. As the king grasped the hart's antlers, they miraculously turned in to a large cross, and the beast raised its head and vanished. Inspired by his vision, King David built a shrine to the Holy Rood - meaning Holy Cross - on the spot where the miracle occurred.
The ruin of Holyrood Abbey can still be seen today, at the foot of the Royal Mile next to Holyrood Palace. The White Hart Inn in Edinburgh's grassmarket, reputedly the oldest pub in the capital, took its name from the legend.
The Celts considered white stags to be messengers from the "other world" and their appearance was said to herald some profound change in the lives of those who encountered them.
In the Chronicles of Narnia, the White Stag is fabled to grant wishes to whoever catches him. And in the Arthurian legend, the white stag is the creature that can never be caught. King Arthur's repeatedly unsuccessful pursuit of the white stag represents mankind's quest for spiritual knowledge.
In Christianity a white stag was said to be instrumental in the conversion of the martyr Saint Eustace after he saw a vision of the animal that told him he would suffer for Christ.
See photos at: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1233644/Pictured-Mythical-white-stag-forests-Gloucestershire.html#ixzz0Z5jy7fMS
(Submitted by Liz R)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Pink dolphin a standout in La. shipping channel
May 27 01:57 PM US/Eastern
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - What's pink, has red eyes and leaps around a Louisiana shipping channel long enough for you to believe your eyes? A rare albino bottlenose dolphin.
Bottlenose dolphins are common in the lower Calcasieu Ship Channel, feeding in the deep water and riding on top of boats' waves. And when the pink one jumps amid four dark gray dolphins, it's easy to spot.
The albino is just the 14th reported worldwide, and the third in the Gulf of Mexico, according to biologist Dagmar Fertl of Plano, Texas.
It was first reported by Wesley Lockard of Rayville, La., as a small calf in June 2007. Lockard, 26, said he and family members were fishing when they were stunned by the sight. "Something comes up and you say, `Wow! Did I just ...?' Then he comes up again and you say, `Yeah! I just saw a pink dolphin!'" he said.
Now, the mammal is as much a part of the channel south of Lake Charles as boats and fishermen.
"We see him on a pretty regular basis," said Roddy Blackburn, crewman and relief captain of a boat that ferries pilots to ships.
But spotting the pink one, believed to be about 2 1/2 years old, does take time. Michael Harbison, a state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist, has seen it several times, but only when he wasn't looking for it. He spent two trips—one for 10 hours—trying to locate it but didn't see the dolphin.
The albino is usually seen with four adults, and probably splits time between the Gulf and the lower 10 miles of the ship channel, said Harbison. Typically, dolphins surface for a second or so to breathe, then dive for up to 10 minutes, moving a half-mile or more, he said.
Five days after the initial sighting was reported nearly two years ago, the dolphin was seen again.
For 90 minutes, fisherman Randy Smith watched the dolphin leap alongside an adult they assumed was its mother.
"It was unbelievable," said Smith, who was returning from a Gulf fishing trip with friends when he saw the dolphin.
Many people refer to the dolphin as a male, though its sex is unknown.
Biologist Mandy Tumlin of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hopes more people will report sightings and give officials as much detail as possible. But they should stay at least 50 yards away and limit themselves to a half-hour of watching to keep the animals from getting too comfortable with people and boats, she said.
No specific studies are planned, but sightings will help the department track the animal.
"As rare as this is, we're trying to get as much as we can (about) this one individual," she said. "We definitely want to protect it and keep it safe."
On the Net:
NOAA albino dolphin fact sheet: http://tinyurl.com/pmvdds
Marine mammal viewing guidelines: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/viewing.htm
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
Fertl: http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com/
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98EOQ700&show_article=1
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - What's pink, has red eyes and leaps around a Louisiana shipping channel long enough for you to believe your eyes? A rare albino bottlenose dolphin.Bottlenose dolphins are common in the lower Calcasieu Ship Channel, feeding in the deep water and riding on top of boats' waves. And when the pink one jumps amid four dark gray dolphins, it's easy to spot.
The albino is just the 14th reported worldwide, and the third in the Gulf of Mexico, according to biologist Dagmar Fertl of Plano, Texas.
It was first reported by Wesley Lockard of Rayville, La., as a small calf in June 2007. Lockard, 26, said he and family members were fishing when they were stunned by the sight. "Something comes up and you say, `Wow! Did I just ...?' Then he comes up again and you say, `Yeah! I just saw a pink dolphin!'" he said.
Now, the mammal is as much a part of the channel south of Lake Charles as boats and fishermen.
"We see him on a pretty regular basis," said Roddy Blackburn, crewman and relief captain of a boat that ferries pilots to ships.
But spotting the pink one, believed to be about 2 1/2 years old, does take time. Michael Harbison, a state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist, has seen it several times, but only when he wasn't looking for it. He spent two trips—one for 10 hours—trying to locate it but didn't see the dolphin.
The albino is usually seen with four adults, and probably splits time between the Gulf and the lower 10 miles of the ship channel, said Harbison. Typically, dolphins surface for a second or so to breathe, then dive for up to 10 minutes, moving a half-mile or more, he said.
Five days after the initial sighting was reported nearly two years ago, the dolphin was seen again.
For 90 minutes, fisherman Randy Smith watched the dolphin leap alongside an adult they assumed was its mother.
"It was unbelievable," said Smith, who was returning from a Gulf fishing trip with friends when he saw the dolphin.
Many people refer to the dolphin as a male, though its sex is unknown.
Biologist Mandy Tumlin of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hopes more people will report sightings and give officials as much detail as possible. But they should stay at least 50 yards away and limit themselves to a half-hour of watching to keep the animals from getting too comfortable with people and boats, she said.
No specific studies are planned, but sightings will help the department track the animal.
"As rare as this is, we're trying to get as much as we can (about) this one individual," she said. "We definitely want to protect it and keep it safe."
On the Net:
NOAA albino dolphin fact sheet: http://tinyurl.com/pmvdds
Marine mammal viewing guidelines: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/viewing.htm
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
Fertl: http://www.ziphiusecoservices.com/
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98EOQ700&show_article=1
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