Albino or white..Whats the difference

[chunkychambers]

There was a heated discussion out on the moor the other day between two old stagers concerning the colouring of Red Deer,
Eventually the debate got around to the only true albino Red Deer ever seen on the moor, back in the 50's I think, but one weather worn old cus said he had seen Red Deer that were partial white and all white several times, and these were also albino!!

Can the members say what, in their opinion, is the difference between true albino and partial or all white?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by chunkychambers

There was a heated discussion out on the moor the other day between two old stagers concerning the colouring of Red Deer,
Eventually the debate got around to the only true albino Red Deer ever seen on the moor, back in the 50's I think, but one weather worn old cus said he had seen Red Deer that were partial white and all white several times, and these were also albino!!

Can the members say what, in their opinion, is the difference between true albino and partial or all white?

Albino is always pure white with pink eyes, lips, skin etc..... it is the absence of pigment. Anything with a dark nose or eyes etc is generally referred to as leucistic which is just reduced pigment.....
you do get light phases of fallow but it's not something I've heard of with Red Deer before but it probably does occur I suppose.

[chunkychambers]

Thanks Gill,
I think with fallow its more of a natural lighter coat rather than actual dis-colouration, but I also see the same thing in birds, partial or all white crows for example, but they are not albino in the strict sense are they??

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by chunkychambers

Thanks Gill,
I think with fallow its more of a natural lighter coat rather than actual dis-colouration, but I also see the same thing in birds, partial or all white crows for example, but they are not albino in the strict sense are they??

Yes that's sort of what I meant, I think some Fallows pass through a number of colour phases in their life.
True albino has to be total lack of pigment, pink eyes and skin. If somethng is just white but has black eyes it's not albino. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as partially albino

[DL]

The lack of colour is still albanisim they are just not true albino.

A basic guide to colour morphs here that might help - Abnormal feather colouring - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

[Paul mabbott]

Not talking just about deer.
Some animals are white - that is their natural colouring (gulls, polar bears ...)
Some animals change their colouring in the winter, becoming pale (Stoats ...)
Neither of these are "albino".
Albinism is when most animals of a species are darkly coloured (by melanins or other pigments in their skins, feathers, eyes) but an *individual* lacks the pigment due to a genetic deficiency. The crtitical element, really, is not just that they will have white skin/fur/feathers but that they will lack pigment in the eyes and other places ....