A striking and captivating crocodile has been born with pure white skin and blue eyes at a Florida reptile park in the United States. The newborn weighs 96 grams and measures 49 centimeters from snout to tail, roughly the size of a newborn human but with the lightest possible weight — akin to a deck of cards. Though tiny now, the future looks bright, as the female cub and her normal-colored sibling quickly adapt to a diet that includes specially formulated Croc Chow pellets and chicken meat provided by keepers to support healthy growth and development.
“They are remarkable creatures in the reptile world”, stated Mark McHugh, president of Gatorland, when spoke with IFLScience. “We plan to showcase them early next year so visitors can see, learn about, and form a bond with these animals. For now, the priority is their safety and monitored growth, so their health can be tracked closely.”
Image caption: An alligator born in Florida at Gatorland by Ken Guzetti.
Not the same as albinism
The new baby crocodile owes its color to leucism, a rare condition that lowers pigmentation but does not erase it. Leucism is often confused with albinism; however, albinism results from a lack of pigment cells that produce melanin, whereas leucism involves reduced pigmentation across the body without a complete absence of color.
A simple test helps distinguish the two: eye color. Albino animals typically have pink eyes, whereas leucistic creatures such as the Florida hatchling usually display blue or dark eyes.
White crocodiles occur in the wild but are exceedingly rare, due to the genetic and environmental factors required for pale coloration. Leucism often involves autosomal recessive traits, meaning both parents must carry the mutation for a white hatchling to appear.
While lacking melanin can offer certain disadvantages in the wild, such as heightened sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, it can also impact vision and camouflage. This makes albino individuals particularly vulnerable. Leucistic animals, though still rare, can sometimes fare better in terms of eye protection and camouflage in certain environments, but the overall balance of survival remains challenging.
Although albinism is very uncommon, leucistic alligators are even rarer. The Florida birth at GatorWorld marks the eighth recorded leucistic alligator of its kind, with a few others residing in the same water park that hosts what is said to be the world’s largest collection of leucistic crocodiles.
Inquiries about the keepers and conservation efforts can be directed to the environmental team at the parks main contact point and public outreach channels.