RE: One photo every day: Kiemis being funny. (227/365)

[elleok]

Beautiful snake! Is that an albino?

Comments

[gamer00]

Does it look like an albino?

FYI, albinos lack all pigment... our Kiemis lacks only black pigment, melanine, the colour is thus called amelanistic.

Edit: It appears that there is such a thing as "partial albinism", and that reptiles are more common to have partial albinism as opposed to absolute albinism, amelanistic being one example of partial albinism.

[elleok]

Ah ok just though because of the red eyes.

[gamer00]

Ok, It looks like I will have to (partially) retract what I said, as according to Wikipedia on this subject, partial albinism is more common for reptiles than absolute albinism, thus making partial lack of pigment a form of albinism (or however it should be interpreted).

In snakes, partial absence of pigment is more common than absolute albinism. For snakes that are usually patterned in colours, they appear as a faint blue, peach or yellowish. In these cases, there has been a genetic mutation in the melanin and pigment delivery. The appearance comes from the inability for full colours to be present, such as black, red, brown and others. The eyes of an albino snake are typically red or pink. Albino snakes can remain in the sunlight for several hours with minimal harm. Corn snakes and snakes of larger types, such as a boa or diamondback snakes, are the most commonly affected by albinism often appearing to be a pinkish or yellowish colour.

Sorry about that. I should've checked before having such an outburst. The truth is I wouldn't probably even have checked it, if my wife hadn't mentioned people commonly refer amelanistic snakes as albinos.

[elleok]

Haha no problem! I know that feeling well when you have to repeat the same thing over and over to different people. To be honest never heard of partial albinism myself. Even though I'm studying biology (just started) up until now I thought red eyes (from animals with usually pigmented eyes/irises) combined with lighter skin makes this animal an albino. But I guess you never stop learning! Thanks for clearing that up!