Nature always brings us some miracles things that we do not expect. Recently, an extremely rare penguin with white plumage was found in Antarctica.
A rare penguin with all-white plumage was spotted in Antarctica
The white penguin was captured by Hugo Alejandro Harros Guerra, a photographer who lives in the middle of a colony of Gentoo penguins. Guerra claimed that he saw it at Base Gabriel Gonzalez Videla earlier this month.
"Every day, there is something different to see. Every day, Antarctica and this beautiful place surprise us with something different," he said.
The rare white penguin is female and belongs to the Gentoo species.
Following CBS reports, this species often possess reddish-orange bills and black heads with white patches around their eyes.
Penguins' white plumage is the result of a genetic mutation known as leucism.
Leucism caused the penguin's plumage to become all-white, different from the typical black color of traditional penguins.
Reports also note that Leucism is different from albinism because Leucism does not change the overall melanin production process and does not affect the pigment cells in the eye.
Experts say that in addition to changing the penguin's appearance, the genetic mutation can also be dangerous for the penguin.
“Although pigmentation is present, it is not present across the whole specimen. There have been other cases of the mutation in other species, including giraffes, alligators, whales, and bison." Dr. Diego Penaloza, a veterinarian said.
Dr Lucas Kruger, a researcher in the scientific department of the Chilean Antarctic Institute stated: "Leucism is a genetic variation that can occur in some individuals, which affects the production of coloration in the skin, feather or hair.
"Here the cells are unable to produce some pigments.
"This occurs naturally and in many cases affects less than one percent of a population."
He added: "That is why cases of leucism are also very rare, because, in addition to being rare genes that are rarely seen, they are also animals that are very exposed, in the case of penguins, to being eaten more easily by a predator,"
A penguin that suffers from leucism can be easily hunted by predators
With all-white plumage, they are easier to detect during hunts by other predators.
In addition, this special plumage also makes it more difficult for them to dive for fish compared to normal penguins.
Ms Vianna said: "This is super interesting since genetic studies have identified that there is practically no genetic differentiation in the vast majority of penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula.
"The only species in which we have seen great genetic differentiation has been the Gentoo, which shows the permanence of its individuals in the same colony."
Another report involves the finding of rare penguins
Similar to the extremely rare penguin with white plumage, a yellow penguin was also discovered on the South Atlantic peninsula in April 2023.
This yellow penguin also suffers from the same disease as the recently discovered white one. It has yellow plumage due to leukopenia, a rare mutation that causes animals to lack pigment factor.
