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Leucistic Fox Squirrel (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Draco
- Start date
Joan & Matt
Well-known member
Very cool, wish we had one of those!
It's the first one that I've ever seen. The grainy photo is due to the amount of cropping I had to do to get it small enough to post. The original is much better. I'm curious to know if the responsible gene is passed to future generations. I also wonder if others of their kind shun them, or ignore the difference. If he/she passes the gene I'll trap you one.
Last year I had an almost pure white Blue Jay. I didn't have the proper gear to get a photo.
Mark
Last year I had an almost pure white Blue Jay. I didn't have the proper gear to get a photo.
Mark
Abra
New member
Mark,
first of all sorry Im so late at seeing this and posting.
I just wanted to point out this is not a leucistic Squirrel; a leucistic, aka Black eyed white would be completely white with black eyes. This looks to be a platinum or possibly a white mosaic. you could also get by with calling it just a white tailed red fox.
genetically speaking, we probably wont be able to find out what genes it has for sure. I know the white gene is usually caused by closely related relatives producing. I breed sugar Gliders for colors, thats why I know this. IF this squirrel did have some kind of white gene, and he mated with a female that did not have the white gene, the offspring would basically have a 50% chance of producing the white gene, they would be possible-heterozygous for some kind of white tailed squirrel. they would then need to breed back to the father (which would be dangerous, but naturally could happen, I suppose) or they would need to find a mate with the white gene, to breed more of these squirrels. As to why ths squirrel had it, maybe it was due to inbreeding, or maybe it was due to some kind of freak of nature. Squirrels do not having white because it would show give them away to predators too easily and they would become extinct before we knew it. I have seen white tipped squirrels before, they are common among the henry doorly zoo in omaha, we think it has something to do with communication, and the tip is smaller. Here is a picture of one of my Sugar Gliders, the tip of his tail is white, and we also believe it is some kind of communicational gene.
let us know if you find any more funky colors.
first of all sorry Im so late at seeing this and posting.
I just wanted to point out this is not a leucistic Squirrel; a leucistic, aka Black eyed white would be completely white with black eyes. This looks to be a platinum or possibly a white mosaic. you could also get by with calling it just a white tailed red fox.
genetically speaking, we probably wont be able to find out what genes it has for sure. I know the white gene is usually caused by closely related relatives producing. I breed sugar Gliders for colors, thats why I know this. IF this squirrel did have some kind of white gene, and he mated with a female that did not have the white gene, the offspring would basically have a 50% chance of producing the white gene, they would be possible-heterozygous for some kind of white tailed squirrel. they would then need to breed back to the father (which would be dangerous, but naturally could happen, I suppose) or they would need to find a mate with the white gene, to breed more of these squirrels. As to why ths squirrel had it, maybe it was due to inbreeding, or maybe it was due to some kind of freak of nature. Squirrels do not having white because it would show give them away to predators too easily and they would become extinct before we knew it. I have seen white tipped squirrels before, they are common among the henry doorly zoo in omaha, we think it has something to do with communication, and the tip is smaller. Here is a picture of one of my Sugar Gliders, the tip of his tail is white, and we also believe it is some kind of communicational gene.
let us know if you find any more funky colors.
Abra,
Thanks for your thoughts on this and welcome to the forum.
That's a neat little critter you have!
The partial albino/leucistic/just partial lack of pigment, debate will never end. I have had discussion after discussion on the subject and there is never a firm conclusion drawn. If you have some resources that define just how to identify which is which by sight I would be very interested in looking at it. If your definition of a leucistic creature is correct (all white with black eyes) then the hummingbird on this Website has been mis-indentified as being leucistic:
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030822.html
This Gecko has been mis-identified:
http://www.thereptilerainforest.com/leucisticbaby.html
This Elk has been mis-identified:
http://www.northrup.org/photos/elk/white-elk9.htm
Further:
"In his field guide, David Sibley uses leucistic to describe unusually pale plumages that retain a hint of the normal patterning."
So, while I appreciate your input, I'm not yet conviced that the photo I posted does not show a leucistic Fox Squirrel.
Mark
Thanks for your thoughts on this and welcome to the forum.
That's a neat little critter you have!
The partial albino/leucistic/just partial lack of pigment, debate will never end. I have had discussion after discussion on the subject and there is never a firm conclusion drawn. If you have some resources that define just how to identify which is which by sight I would be very interested in looking at it. If your definition of a leucistic creature is correct (all white with black eyes) then the hummingbird on this Website has been mis-indentified as being leucistic:
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030822.html
This Gecko has been mis-identified:
http://www.thereptilerainforest.com/leucisticbaby.html
This Elk has been mis-identified:
http://www.northrup.org/photos/elk/white-elk9.htm
Further:
"In his field guide, David Sibley uses leucistic to describe unusually pale plumages that retain a hint of the normal patterning."
So, while I appreciate your input, I'm not yet conviced that the photo I posted does not show a leucistic Fox Squirrel.
Mark
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prairiemerlin
registered guy
Draco:
We have those white tailed squirrels! (Or at least we used to!) One day I saw 2 different ones! I have never seen one at my feeders, which is funny.
We have those white tailed squirrels! (Or at least we used to!) One day I saw 2 different ones! I have never seen one at my feeders, which is funny.
Rasmus Boegh
BF member
Yes, the leucistic/albino discussion has been here for a while. I have been asking prominent birders (or rather; scientists), incl. writers of European, Australian & South American field guides. Among people asked were also leading figures of the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. They agreed with what I learnt in Uni:
Albino: A complete lack of pigment (incl. soft parts & eyes).
Leucistic: A partial lack of pigment. The bird (or whatever) isn't completely white but rather white with some patches still retaining at least some pigmentation. Complete leucistic individuals lack all pigments, except on their soft parts (eyes, legs in birds, bill/nose-tip etc.).
In reality there is no real use of "partial" next to "albino". A partial albino isn't an albino but rather a leucistic individual!
Here's a quote from page 733 in the "Birds of Africa south of Sahara" by Ian Sinclair & Peter Ryan:
"Leucistic: Unusually pale individuals, resulting from the absence of pigments. The extent of leucism can be either partial or complete. Most "albinos" are usually leucistic birds that retain some pigmentation at least in their soft parts"
So, back to the squirrel. Yes, it certainly is lacking pigment, so it is leucistic. To be more precise it is a partial leucistic individual. Breeders of various animals may call it something else, but strictly speaking, it is leucistic. Genes for lack of pigmentation are usually (exceptions are known) recessive, meaning that unless both parent have it (and pass it on), the next generation won't be lacking the pigment - even though it can be a carrier for the gene. Usually, such pale individuals don't survive for a long time in the nature, so it is relatively rare; especially complete albinism. In any case, it is interesting when you see it...
Albino: A complete lack of pigment (incl. soft parts & eyes).
Leucistic: A partial lack of pigment. The bird (or whatever) isn't completely white but rather white with some patches still retaining at least some pigmentation. Complete leucistic individuals lack all pigments, except on their soft parts (eyes, legs in birds, bill/nose-tip etc.).
In reality there is no real use of "partial" next to "albino". A partial albino isn't an albino but rather a leucistic individual!
Here's a quote from page 733 in the "Birds of Africa south of Sahara" by Ian Sinclair & Peter Ryan:
"Leucistic: Unusually pale individuals, resulting from the absence of pigments. The extent of leucism can be either partial or complete. Most "albinos" are usually leucistic birds that retain some pigmentation at least in their soft parts"
So, back to the squirrel. Yes, it certainly is lacking pigment, so it is leucistic. To be more precise it is a partial leucistic individual. Breeders of various animals may call it something else, but strictly speaking, it is leucistic. Genes for lack of pigmentation are usually (exceptions are known) recessive, meaning that unless both parent have it (and pass it on), the next generation won't be lacking the pigment - even though it can be a carrier for the gene. Usually, such pale individuals don't survive for a long time in the nature, so it is relatively rare; especially complete albinism. In any case, it is interesting when you see it...
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prairiemerlin
registered guy
Sorry about this late reply Draco. I'm in south-eastern Michigan, in Oakland County. It's nice to know there are some other Michigan-birders out there!
I had a mutant squirrel in my yard on Wednesday. He had a pure white body with a brown tail, head and feet. He was beautiful chasing around with a couple of other normal squirrels. I sure hope to get a photograph and intend to set up a feeder and a blind. I'll wait in the blind with my camera.
Henry A.
I obtained a photograph of my leucistic squirrel this week. He comes around with other squirrels every morning to feed. Fascinating creature. I've not seen one in nature or on the Internet quite this beautiful.
I obtained a photograph of my leucistic squirrel this week. He comes around with other squirrels every morning to feed. Fascinating creature. I've not seen one in nature or on the Internet quite this beautiful.
