Current:Home > Contact'Beyond rare' all-white alligator born in Florida. She may be 1 of 8 in the world. -前500条预览:
'Beyond rare' all-white alligator born in Florida. She may be 1 of 8 in the world.
EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-07 20:02:52
More than 35 years after a rare nest of white alligators was discovered in a Louisiana swamp … a star is born!
A leucistic all-white alligator was born this summer at Gatorland, the alligator park in Orlando, Florida, said in a news release Thursday.
Leucistic alligators are the rarest genetic variation of the alligator with white coloration, patches of normal pigmentation and blue eyes, the release said. They differ from albino alligators, which have complete loss of pigmentation and pink eyes.
The all-white female was born in August along with a brother gator with normal coloring. Gatorland's veterinary staff said they both received clean bills of health, though the all-white female will be sensitive to the sun.
Leucistic alligator baby makes 8 known in the world
In a Gatorland YouTube video, CEO and president Mark McHugh, said there are only seven other known leucistic alligators in the world, and three of them are at Gatorland.
The new girl was born to a normal-colored mom that carried the recessive gene and a leucistic dad. The release said it is the first leucistic alligator born in human care.
"This is beyond 'rare,' it is absolutely extraordinary!” McHugh said in the news release. "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."
Help name the rare gator and her brother
Gatorland is asking for the public's help in naming the special gator and her brother. The comments on the Facebook post show some creative ideas:
- Pearl and Emerald
- Barbie and Ken
- Elsa and Olaf
- Grits and Gumbo
Leucistic snake:'He is stunning.' MS wildlife rehabber nurses battered, rare white snake back to health
The public also helped pick the name "Jawlene," in honor of Dolly Parton, for an alligator found with is top jaw missing.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Men who died in Oregon small plane crash were Afghan Air Force pilots who resettled as refugees
- Airbnb admits misleading Australian customers by charging in US dollars instead of local currency
- Fact-checking 'Maestro': What's real, what's 'fudged' in Netflix's Leonard Bernstein film
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- Home sales snapped a five-month skid in November as easing mortgage rates encouraged homebuyers
- Indiana underestimated Medicaid cost by nearly $1 billion, new report says
- Earthquake in China leaves at least 126 dead, hundreds injured
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Helicopter for Action News 6 crashes in New Jersey; pilot, photographer killed
Ranking
- 'Most Whopper
- New 'Washington Post' CEO accused of Murdoch tabloid hacking cover-up
- Robot dogs, e-tricycles and screen-free toys? The coolest gadgets of 2023 aren't all techy
- No fire plans, keys left out and no clean laundry. Troubled South Carolina jail fails inspection
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- 'Aquaman' star Jason Momoa cracks up Kelly Clarkson with his NSFW hip thrusts: Watch
- Dancing in her best dresses, fearless, a TikTok performer recreates the whole Eras Tour
- Poland’s new government moves to free state media from previous team’s political control
Recommendation
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
What to know about the Colorado Supreme Court's Trump ruling, and what happens next
Top French TV personality faces preliminary charge of rape: What to know
Argentina’s president warned of a tough response to protests. He’s about to face the first one
Travis Hunter, the 2
Indiana underestimated Medicaid cost by nearly $1 billion, new report says
A quarter of Methodist congregations abandon the Church as schism grows over LGBTQ issues
Earthquake in China leaves at least 126 dead, hundreds injured