Current:Home > Invest'Beyond rare' all-white alligator born in Florida. She may be 1 of 8 in the world. -Blueprint Money Mastery
'Beyond rare' all-white alligator born in Florida. She may be 1 of 8 in the world.
View
Date:2025-04-18 09:03:34
More than 35 years after a rare nest of white alligators was discovered in a Louisiana swamp … a star is born!
A leucistic all-white alligator was born this summer at Gatorland, the alligator park in Orlando, Florida, said in a news release Thursday.
Leucistic alligators are the rarest genetic variation of the alligator with white coloration, patches of normal pigmentation and blue eyes, the release said. They differ from albino alligators, which have complete loss of pigmentation and pink eyes.
The all-white female was born in August along with a brother gator with normal coloring. Gatorland's veterinary staff said they both received clean bills of health, though the all-white female will be sensitive to the sun.
Leucistic alligator baby makes 8 known in the world
In a Gatorland YouTube video, CEO and president Mark McHugh, said there are only seven other known leucistic alligators in the world, and three of them are at Gatorland.
The new girl was born to a normal-colored mom that carried the recessive gene and a leucistic dad. The release said it is the first leucistic alligator born in human care.
"This is beyond 'rare,' it is absolutely extraordinary!” McHugh said in the news release. "These are incredibly special animals in the reptile world, and we are being very careful with their safety and security. We plan to have them on display early next year so guests can see them, learn about them, and fall in love with them like we have."
Help name the rare gator and her brother
Gatorland is asking for the public's help in naming the special gator and her brother. The comments on the Facebook post show some creative ideas:
- Pearl and Emerald
- Barbie and Ken
- Elsa and Olaf
- Grits and Gumbo
Leucistic snake:'He is stunning.' MS wildlife rehabber nurses battered, rare white snake back to health
The public also helped pick the name "Jawlene," in honor of Dolly Parton, for an alligator found with is top jaw missing.
veryGood! (259)
Related
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Electric Vehicles for Uber and Lyft? Los Angeles Might Require It, Mayor Says.
- Man thought killed during Philadelphia mass shooting was actually slain two days earlier, authorities say
- Warming Trends: A Global Warming Beer Really Needs a Frosty Mug, Ghost Trees in New York and a Cooking Site Gives Up Beef
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Buying a home became a key way to build wealth. What happens if you can't afford to?
- Crack in North Carolina roller coaster was seen about six to 10 days before the ride was shut down
- Chilling details emerge in case of Florida plastic surgeon accused of killing lawyer
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- BP and Shell Write-Off Billions in Assets, Citing Covid-19 and Climate Change
Ranking
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Post Election, Climate and Racial Justice Protesters Gather in Boston Over Ballot Counting
- Al Pacino, 83, Welcomes First Baby With Girlfriend Noor Alfallah
- Q&A: Why Women Leading the Climate Movement are Underappreciated and Sometimes Invisible
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Southwest promoted five executives just weeks after a disastrous meltdown
- Chilling details emerge in case of Florida plastic surgeon accused of killing lawyer
- The Riverkeeper’s Quest to Protect the Delaware River Watershed as the Rains Fall and Sea Level Rises
Recommendation
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
Untangling Exactly What Happened to Pregnant Olympian Tori Bowie
Avoid these scams on Amazon Prime Day this week
Climate Activists See ‘New Era’ After Three Major Oil and Gas Pipeline Defeats
Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
Q&A: The Sierra Club Embraces Environmental Justice, Forcing a Difficult Internal Reckoning
Will a Summer of Climate Crises Lead to Climate Action? It’s Not Looking Good
On Climate, Kamala Harris Has a Record and Profile for Action