There are a number of animal species that can have fully white coloration. This white coloration is often an adaptation to the environments these animals live in. Being white allows animals to blend into snowy habitats, hide from predators, or reflect heat in hot environments. While some animals are always white, others may change color seasonally or at different stages of their lives. Here are some of the most common fully white animals.
Arctic and Polar Animals
Some of the most well-known fully white animals live in Arctic and polar environments covered in snow and ice. Being white helps these animals camouflage and avoid predators in the snow. Arctic animals with all-white coloration include:
- Polar bears
- Arctic foxes
- Arctic hares
- Ptarmigans
- Snowy owls
- Beluga whales
Polar bears are perhaps the most iconic white Arctic animal. Both their fur and skin are completely white to blend in with snow and ice. Female polar bears tend to be slightly smaller and whiter than males. Arctic foxes also have thick white fur coats that act as camouflage. They shed this white fur in the summer for a shorter brown coat. The Arctic hare is the only hare native to North America and turns white in the wintertime. Ptarmigans are medium-sized birds that also molt from a spring/summer plumage to a completely white winter coat. Snowy owls and beluga whales round out some other Arctic animals with year-round white coloration.
White Mammals
In addition to polar regions, there are other mammals found around the world that are completely white. Some examples include:
- White tigers and lions
- White rhinos
- Spirit bears
- White giraffes
- White kangaroos
- Pygmy hippos
White tigers and lions are not true separate species, but rather color variations of the Bengal tiger and African lion. Their white color is caused by a recessive gene mutation that inhibits orange pigment production. Though rare, fully white individuals can occur in populations of these big cats. White rhinos are the largest extant mammal after elephants and get their name from the Dutch word “wijd” meaning wide, referring to their broad lips. The spirit bear is a white subspecies of the American black bear found in coastal British Columbia. A few extremely rare white giraffes and kangaroos have been observed in the wild in Africa and Australia respectively. Pygmy hippos can also display a rare white coloration.
White Birds
Many species of birds also include all-white forms. Some examples of birds that can be fully white include:
- White peacocks
- White turkeys
- White pigeons
- White geese
- White ducks
- White swans
- Albino crows
Like white tigers, white peacocks are color mutations of the normal blue Indian peafowl. Selective breeding of white turkeys is used to produce commercial turkeys, which are all white. White fantail pigeons are bred for their white plumage. Domestic geese and ducks can also be selectively bred to be white. In nature, the mute swan is known for its pure white plumage. Finally, complete lack of melanin can result in albino crows which are fully white.
White Sea Creatures
The white coloration also appears commonly in various ocean creatures including:
- Beluga whale
- White shark
- Albino dolphin
- Albino sea turtle
- Albino lobster
- Albino crab
As mentioned earlier, beluga whales in Arctic waters are all white. Great white sharks get their name from their white underbellies which help camouflage them when hunting prey from below. Though rare, albino dolphins, sea turtles, lobsters and crabs can occur when melanin production is inhibited. These albino sea creatures appear fully white compared to others of their normal species coloration.
Other Rare White Animals
There are also some other more unusual and rare white animals including:
- White alligators
- White snakes
- White squirrels
- White deer
- White moose
White alligators occur due to a condition called leucism, which reduces skin pigmentation. Selective breeding has also produced white snakes like the albino Burmese python. Squirrels and deer can display leucism as well, resulting in white individuals. Moose may also be partially or fully white, most often observed in Canada.
Conclusion
In summary, many animals across different groups like birds, mammals, reptiles, and sea creatures can display completely white coloration. This is often an adaptation to snowy Arctic environments but can occur due to genetic conditions like albinism as well. While uncommon, unusual white versions of animals can sometimes appear in populations through random mutation. Being white allows these extraordinary animals to stand out against the norm and thrive in their native habitats.
Fully White Animals Data
| Animal Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Arctic Animals | Polar Bear, Arctic Fox, Ptarmigan |
| Mammals | White Tiger, Spirit Bear, White Giraffe |
| Birds | White Peacock, Albino Crow, White Goose |
| Sea Creatures | Beluga Whale, Albino Lobster, White Shark |
| Other | White Squirrel, White Deer, White Moose |
