Many people see white rabbits around them, but a few lucky ones get an opportunity to see the albino rabbits. The ruby-red glow in their eyes makes them look distinct and grabs attention. This striking sight provokes curiosity about the possible reasons behind their distinctive features, like red eyes.
Rabbits can be albino as there is a possibility of genetic mutation in them, resulting in a lack of pigmentation in their body, including eyes, fur color, etc. Florida rabbits, Himalayan rabbits, and Californian rabbits are 100% albino having friendly or docile nature. They are rare to see in the wild due to easier identification by predators.
In this article, the genetic basis of albinism, common albino breeds, health concerns related to albinos, the reasons for the red color eyes in rabbits and other features will be explained that help to know about this genetic disorder in rabbits. Let’s explore the possible reasons behind it and the physiology and genetics playing roles in their fascinating or unique appearance.
What causes Albino rabbits?
Albinism refers to the lack of pigmentation in the body when the melanin gene responsible for pigmentation undergoes mutation. Different environmental and internal factors are responsible for this mutation.
It results in albino organisms that do not have colorful bodies and pigmented eyes. The same is the case when you see albino rabbits as their pigmentation genes do not express.
The albinos lack a pigment called melanin in the eyes and furs and their bodies appear white, which is also seen in some species of bunnies naturally.
However, the distinctive feature is their eyes, which appear reddish instead of black or brown. Tyrosinase is the enzyme responsible for producing pigment in mammals, and a melanin gene controls this pigment production.
This gene blocks the production of an enzyme named tyrosinase when mutated and makes them appear dull or colorless.
Generally, eyes reflect the color of the iris, but in the case of albinism, there is no melanin. So, the reflection of blood vessels present in the eyes behind the iris shows their color.
Albinism typically occurs in several breeds of rabbits where the characteristics of albinism are received by parents having recessive genes.
The albinos are bred by breeders through selective breeding methods for various purposes (e.g. exhibition, laboratory, or research purposes).
What type of rabbits are Albino?
Albinism is an extremely rare trait in rabbits, but breeders have bred them in a controlled environment, as they are popular due to their uniqueness.
There are some particular breeds that are explicitly bred for getting albino rabbits. New Zealand White Rabbit is the only breed having pure white fur and red eyes naturally.
They were bred as lab animals and kept as pets due to their friendly temperament. Himalayan and Californian breeds look like albinos due to their white furs, but they have white furs, red or pink eyes, and dark furs around the tails, nose, ears, and feet.
Furthermore, a few breeds have red eyes with different fur colorings, but contain albino genes.
These breeds include Mini Lop rabbits, Satin Rabbits, Lionhead rabbits, Rex Rabbits, Jersey Wooly, Flemish Giant rabbits (gentle giant), and New Zealand rabbits.
Also, Britannia Pettite rabbits, Angora Rabbits, and Netherland Dwarf rabbits are included in the list of bunnies that can be an albino type.
These breeds are not 100% albino varieties as recognized by standard albino breeds. However, albino bunnies are still found in these breeds due to genetic traits of albinism.
Can albino rabbits have babies?
Albino rabbits can have babies exactly like the other non-albino. Their offspring inherit traits of albinism if both parents have a genetically mutated form of the melanin gene.
It is found that albinism is a recessive trait. So, there are more chances of albino offspring if both parents have the recessive gene.
In addition, it is possible that an albino parent mates with a non-albino and produce a normal offspring, but with the carrier gene. This gene can be passed to a new generation.
Consequently, the trait of albinism does not affect their breeding ability as they are capable of reproducing. They can have babies once they reach get sexually mature.
In the wild, they do not reach maturity because are more likely to become prey due to their higher visibility and increased risk of predation.
So, they usually do not reach adulthood to have babies and are rare in this natural ecosystem.
How rare are the Albino rabbits?
Some people are curious about the number of albino rabbits in nature, which depends on the type of living environment. In the wild, they are more visible to predators, so they do not live long in such conditions.
Consequently, they have low survival rates in the wild, but the domestic species can live longer due to negligible risk of predation.
Breeders keep albino rabbits and allow them to reproduce, so they are common in captivity. In addition to this, they get special attention as pets so their life span is typically more than the wild.
There are different types of albino bunnies, and each has its demand according to personality traits or body shapes. Every pet owner chooses an albino according to the desired character, so each type has a different rarity or commonality.
Albinos do not have the same life span as non-albinos, even if domesticated. However, proper care and attention allow them to live a healthier or longer life than the wild ones.
Albino rabbits are comparatively rarer because this genetic mutation rarely occurs. Despite the rarity of albinos, they have significance in certain symbolic or cultural contexts due to their striking features.
What survival challenges do Albino rabbits have?
They look like a healthy pet and get the same care, diet, living conditions, and training from the owners. There are some concerns related to their skin and eyesight other than regular care.
Poor eyesight
They have relatively poor eyesight than their fellows with pigmented bodies. They need more focus and time to scan their surrounding environment before moving ahead.
In addition, they have difficulty determining the accurate depth and take more time to scan or parallax than non-albinos to estimate the relative distance between the objects.
I found my albino bunny facing difficulty in looking at the nearby food bowl as I saw it while twitching nose, which shows that it is trying to detect the food by smell rather than sight.
However, the non-albino ones approached the bowl quickly and started eating in a few seconds because they used their sense of sight and smell to detect the food.
Sensitivity to light
They are very sensitive to light and lack iris, so more light passes through their eyes. They squint more than non-albinos and feel uncomfortable when exposed to direct sunlight.
It is difficult or painful for them to deal with the direct source of light. As a pet owner, it is essential to ensure that your red-eyed rabbit stays in shady places instead of direct sunlight.
Furthermore, melanin is responsible for dissipating and absorbing UV radiation and acts as a sunscreen to eyes. So, their skin’s lack this natural protection makes them vulnerable to damage caused by UV radiation.
Sunburn
They lack melanin pigment that provides shields from harmful sun rays. It makes them prone to sunburn and susceptible to skin cancer or other skin-related issues.
It usually happens when they get exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period in the absence of any protection on their bodies.
The most affected areas by sunburn are those that have less fur coverage or the areas with a light-colored or thin covering of fur, like eyelids, nose, ear, or other exposed areas.
Further, sunburn causes redness, pain, discomfort, and peeling of skin or blistering in severe cases. The application of pet-safe sunscreen on affected areas of the skin protects from sunburn.
Temperature regulation
Melanin plays a role in the thermoregulation of the body, which helps in heat absorption and dissipation. Albinos have difficulty regulating their body temperature and are vulnerable to hypothermia or heat strokes.
Melanin contributes to fur and skin coloration, as the darker pigmentation absorbs more heat and sunlight, which is beneficial in maintaining the body temperature in cooler environments.
On the other hand, melanin helps dissipate excessive heat from the body in warm environments and contributes to the maintenance of the body temperature in summer.
Unfortunately, albino rabbits do not have this pigment and they face difficulty in maintaining their body temperature by using their skin.
So, it is essential to take special care of your pets and protect your albino bunnies from the hazardous effects of high temperatures and direct or bright sunlight.
Can you keep albino rabbits as pets?
Albino rabbits are suitable to keep as pets due to their unique or striking appearance, white furs, and ruby-red eyes, which make them distinctive among other pet bunnies or breeds.
Their characteristics are highly appealing to many people; that’s why they are favorite pets. They are highly docile, friendly creatures, and tend to have a strong or affectionate bond with their owners.
These are readily available and have a calm temperament. In addition, albino breed is a symbolic representation of good luck in some cultures.
Overall, they are proven to be wonderful pets if they get proper care and attention. The owners should take extra considerations, while taking care of these sensitive furry animals.
On the other hand, there are a few challenges for pet keepers because albinos are more prone to some health conditions related to skin and eyes, as they lack protective pigment.
In addition, lack of natural camouflage makes them vulnerable to predation in wild conditions. They inherit some genetic disorders in association with albinism that have an impact on their health.
You should consider all these challenges before making a final decision to opt for them as pets because they need more care than non-albino bunnies.
Proper attention or care, provision of shelter, management of light, veterinary care, protection from environmental hazards, and proper food ensure their healthy and happy life.