'Beyond rare' white alligator born in the US with pink skin and blue eyes as scientists hail 'extraordinary' find | The Sun
AN EXTREMELY rare white alligator has stunned scientists after emerging from an egg in Florida with pink skin and crystal blue eyes.
The female has won the hearts of gator fans who reckon the reptilian version of “Ol’ Blue Eyes" should be called “Baby Sinatra.”
News of the incredible hatching at Gatorland Orlando was revealed across social media on Thursday.
Proud workers who released a clip of the baby on YouTube, said that according to "Cajun folklore, good fortune comes to those lucky enough to stare into the crystal blue eyes of the white alligator."
They admitted it had been difficult keeping quiet about the emergence of the extremely rare white leucistic alligator at the reptile attraction.
NEST OF LEUCISTIC GATORS
The park said: "For the first time since a nest of leucistic alligators was
discovered in the swamps of Louisiana 36 years ago, we have the first birth of a solid white alligator ever recorded from those original alligators."
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The 19.2-inch (49 cm) female slithered out of its shell and into the history books as one of just a few known captive leucistic gators, Gatorland said. Pronounced "loo-kiz-im", this is a genetic peculiarity which gives a white colour.
"This is beyond rare. It is absolutely extraordinary," added Mark McHugh, president and CEO of Gatorland.
He said: "These are incredibly special animals in the reptile world, and we are being very careful with their safety and security.
"We plan to have them on display early next year so guests can
see them, learn about them, and fall in love with them like we have.
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"For now, however, we continue to keep them safe where we can closely monitor their health and growth."
NOT AN ALBINO
Leucistic gators are the rarest genetic variation in the American alligator.
They differ from albino alligators, which have pink eyes and a complete loss of pigment, according to Gatorland.
The team said on YouTube: "Albinos have pink eyes.
“There are hundreds of albino alligators around the world, but leucistics have little patches of normal coloration on them, and crystal blue eyes.
"This is what makes them leucistic.
"There were 18 of them born in Louisiana back in 1987. There are only seven of them still living today – three of them right here in Gatorland.
“We are so excited that we’ve got a baby one of them."
LONG TIME TO HATCH
The female baby's normal-colored mum carries the gene, while her father is “solid white, leucistic”, they added.
She emerged at the same time as her brother a normal colored gator.
But it has been a fraught time for staff, as it had taken both babies ten extra days to emerge from their shells.
They said: “Usually American alligators hatch about 65 days (but) these hatched on the 75th day.
“We’d given up hope.”
A veterinarian has checked the baby’s health, including her eyes and ears, with both siblings declared as being “feisty little critters."
There will, however, be implications because of her pale skin.
Without the darker skin pigmentation, they can’t have direct sunlight for long periods of time because they sunburn easily.
Gatorland has asked the public to help name the beautiful white female and her normal colored brother.
"BABY SINATRA"
One person suggested on YouTube: "With those blue eyes, you could name that Baby Sinatra! Ole Blue Eyes!"
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And Michael Martini posted: "Congratulations! That is so awesome! This is the coolest alligator I’ve ever seen in the entire world."
Another reptile lover wrote: "Diamond for the leucistic baby, and Emerald for the normal color baby."
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