Leucism:
Tamil Nadu Forest Department staff and members of a non-governmental organisation recently rescued a rare peacock with white feathers, caused by a genetic condition called leucism.
- It is an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation affecting various animals (such as birds, mammals, and reptiles) that is marked by overall pale color or patches of reduced coloring.
- It is caused by a genetic mutation which inhibits melanin and other pigments from being deposited in feathers, hair, or skin.
- In birds, leucism affects only the bird’s feathers, this means they do not have the normal, classic plumage colors.
- They may have white patches where the bird should not have any, or their overall plumage may look pale or bleached out
