Albino Darwin Carpet Python
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Morelia spilota variegata or the Carpet Python
Meet Tully. Tully is an albino Darwin Carpet Python. Tully's mum was found in a caravan park in Darwin about ten years ago. A resident of the caravan park saw Blondie one day. When the Parks and Wildlife Commission head about it they took Blondie to the Territory Wildlife Park. Albino animals are thought to be more visible to predators in the wild, so they are often caught and kept in captivity, carpet python is among them. Despite their supposedly more visible looks, adult albino animals are often found in the wild, showing that they can avoid predation and survive through to adulthood.
Albinism is widespread through the animal kingdom. All sorts of albino animals have been found - insects, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, and more. An albino animal can't make melanin. Melanin is a dark pigment that is produced and stored in the skin. For instance, when you spend a lot of time in the sun you get a sun tan. The darker coloration of your skin is due to an increase in the amount of melanin. The genetic fault that prevents albinos from properly producing melanin is heritable, meaning that an albino adult carpet python can pass the albino gene onto its offspring.
Did you know...
- Albino animals are thought to be more visible to predators in the wild, so they are often caught and kept in captivity.
- An albino animal can't make melanin. Melanin is a dark pigment that is produced and stored in the skin. The genetic fault that prevents albinos from properly producing melanin is heritable, meaning that an albino adult can pass the albino gene onto its offspring.
Where Albino Darwin Carpet Python can be found in Australia:
