I'm working on this one. Albinism is a lack of the ability for melanocytes to produce melanin. I don't think insects and crustaceans have melanocytes. There is a pigment mutation that causes blue lobsters, and there are other color mutations too, including white.
Some enthusiasts have managed to produce these mutations in captive specimens. (don't be thrown by this article's misuse of the word "species" where they mean "breed" or "variety.")
Much searching for phrases like "albinism in animals" turned up no invertebrates--except for lobsters. The normal pigment in lobsters is dark green, not the brown color we associate with melanin. I think those instances that articles refer to "albino lobsters" they are using the term out of convenience. In other words there are lobsters that have a genetic mutation that results in lighter color, but not albino lobsters, technically. (What I mean is, albinism in birds, snakes, gorillas and humans is caused by the same genetic mutation, an alteration of a gene that lobsters--being far afield from those other animals, evolutionarily speaking--do not have.)
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timeasmymeasure
"Professor Art-school dropout" teaches his albinism class
Date: 2005-06-07 03:48 pm (UTC)Some enthusiasts have managed to produce these mutations in captive specimens. (don't be thrown by this article's misuse of the word "species" where they mean "breed" or "variety.")
Much searching for phrases like "albinism in animals" turned up no invertebrates--except for lobsters. The normal pigment in lobsters is dark green, not the brown color we associate with melanin. I think those instances that articles refer to "albino lobsters" they are using the term out of convenience. In other words there are lobsters that have a genetic mutation that results in lighter color, but not albino lobsters, technically. (What I mean is, albinism in birds, snakes, gorillas and humans is caused by the same genetic mutation, an alteration of a gene that lobsters--being far afield from those other animals, evolutionarily speaking--do not have.)
Whew.
Know what I mean?