Leucism, melanism and other colour mutations in wildlife

Posted by HelenCross

Leucism is a wide variety of conditions that result in partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—causing white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales, or cuticles, but not the eyes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism

Melanism is the congenital excess of melanin in an organism resulting in dark pigment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanism

Patching/piebald mutation - partial lack of pigment that results in irregular patches of white