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xanthophores (yellow): contain yellow pigments in the forms of carotenoids.Mature chromatophores are grouped into subclasses based on their colour under white light:

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Chromatophores are largely responsible for generating skin and eye colour in poikilothermic animals and are generated in the neural crest during embryonic development.

The term chromatophore can also refer to coloured, membrane-associated vesicles found in some forms of photosynthetic bacteria. Mammals and birds, in contrast, have a class of cells called melanocytes for colouration. These cells are found in a wide range of animals including amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans and cephalopods. Many animal body-parts, such as skin, eyes, feathers, fur, hair, scales and cuticles, contain pigments in specialized cells called chromatophores. Animals may have both biological pigments and structural colours, for example, some butterflies with white wings. Biological colouration Īnimals can appear coloured due to two mechanisms, pigments and structural colours. Terms associated with this phenomenon are 'hypochromia' and 'albiflora'. However, these plants are not totally devoid of chlorophyll. Some plant variations may have white flowers or other parts. Albinism in plants interferes with photosynthesis, which can reduce survivability. In plants, albinism is characterised by partial or complete loss of chlorophyll pigments and incomplete differentiation of chloroplast membranes. Type I oculocutaneous albinism (OCA1a) is the form most commonly recognised as 'albino' as this results in a complete absence of melanin in the skin, hair/fur/feathers, and pink pupils, however this has led many to assume that all albinos are pure white with pink pupils, which is not the case. Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a clearly defined set of seven types of genetic mutations which reduce or completely prevent the synthesis of eumelanin or pheomelanin, resulting in reduced pigmentation. However, this is contrary to definitions where the condition is inherited.

that albinism can occur for a number of reasons aside from inheritance, including genetic mutations, diet, living conditions, age, disease, or injury. Albinism is a well-recognized phenomenon in molluscs, both in the shell and in the soft parts. Familiar albino animals include in-bred strains of laboratory animals (rats, mice and rabbits), but populations of naturally occurring albino animals exist in the wild, e.g. It is a common misconception that all albino animals have characteristic pink or red eyes (resulting from the lack of pigment in the iris allowing the blood vessels of the retina to be visible), however this is not the case for some forms of albinism. Albinism can reduce the survivability of an animal for example, it has been suggested that albino alligators have an average survival span of only 24 hours due to the lack of protection from UV radiation and their lack of camouflage to avoid predators. Varied use and interpretation of the terms mean that written reports of albinistic animals can be difficult to verify. Individuals with the condition are referred to as albinos. Albinism is the congenital absence of melanin in an animal or plant resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and reddish pink or blue eyes.