Current:Home > Invest'Beyond rare' all-white alligator born in Florida. She may be 1 of 8 in the world. -Ascend Finance Compass
'Beyond rare' all-white alligator born in Florida. She may be 1 of 8 in the world.
View
Date:2025-04-12 14:07:43
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! (83)
Related
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Residents battling a new train line in northern Mexico face a wall of government secrecy
- Taylor Swift postpones Brazil show due to heat, day after fan dies during concert
- Federal authorities investigate underwater oil pipeline leak off the coast of Louisiana
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- A Chinese man is extradited from Morocco to face embezzlement charges in Shanghai
- Trump is returning to the US-Mexico border as he lays out a set of hard-line immigration proposals
- Angel Reese absent from LSU women's basketball game Friday. What coach Kim Mulkey said
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Rare dreamer anglerfish with ultra-black 'invisibility cloak' spotted in California waters
Ranking
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Russian drones target Kyiv as UK Defense Ministry says little chance of front-line change
- Investigators found fire and safety hazards on land under I-10 in Los Angeles before arson fire
- Florida State QB Jordan Travis out with leg injury, No. 4 Seminoles rout North Alabama 58-13
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- This cursed season should finally put the 'NFL is scripted' conspiracies to rest
- Philippines leader Marcos’ visit to Hawaii boosts US-Philippines bond and recalls family history
- No turkey needed: How to make a vegetarian Thanksgiving spread, including the main dish
Recommendation
Bodycam footage shows high
Why Americans feel gloomy about the economy despite falling inflation and low unemployment
Bruins forward Milan Lucic taking leave of absence after reported arrest for domestic incident
First group of wounded Palestinian children from Israel-Hamas war arrives in United Arab Emirates
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Arkansas man used losing $20 scratch-off ticket to win $500,000 in play-it-again game
Horoscopes Today, November 17, 2023
Want to rent a single-family home? Here's where it's most affordable.