Template:POTD/2009-12-08
An albino Bennett's Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus), one of a number of albino individuals on Bruny Island, off the coast of Tasmania, Australia. Albinism is characterized by a partial or total absence of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair, resulting from inheritance of recessive alleles. The condition is known to affect mammals (including humans), fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Albinism is sometimes confused with leucism, in which all integumental pigment is at least partially absent due to chromatophore defects.Photo credit: Noodle snacks