ALBINO red-backed salamander

[paulnj]

thanks. I heard mention of a T+ and T- albino, but can't find images or confirmed reports of more that leucistic animals in 5 different locations over the years.

[Sushigaijin]

well, for sure it's an amelanistic mutation - whether or not it's t+ or t- is usually visible by (t+) ghosting of melanin, which would lead me to believe it is t-. However, you'd need a biopsy to really see what's going on there.

IIRC it's correct to call any amelanistic mutation an "albino," as the word describes an appearance but not a cause. Likewise "amelanistic" only describes a lack of melanin, not the factors that cause the absence.

BUT, I've also heard that "albino" should only be used to describe a condition where NO pigment is present.

Leucistic animals typically are solid white and have black or blue eyes while most amelanistic critters have red eyes.

I don't do much deli-cupping anymore but it's a neat breeding project from the start because salamanders are not super common in the pet trade, and are usually wild-caught. I think about keeping eurycea just about every time I see one but I'm not sure I could keep them cold enough!!

[Grandpaw]

very unusual find, Jeff