white tiger

white tiger, colour variant of the Bengal tiger (Pantheria tigris tigris), the Siberian tiger (P. tigris altaica), or a hybrid between the two subspecies that is characterized by white fur, dark brown or black stripes, and blue eyes. This rare colour mutation, called leucism, which also occurs in many other animals, appears in perhaps one in 10,000 tigers in the wild. The mutation results from the mating of two tigers that carry the recessive allele that produces white fur in their offspring. More specifically, it stems from the substitution of a single amino acid in a single transporter protein that greatly reduces the production of one of the major types of the pigment melanin, called pheomelanin, which produces the reds, oranges, and yellows that appear in a tiger’s fur. White tigers do, however, possess eumelanin, the pigment that colours the tiger’s eyes and the hairs of its stripes. Leucism differs from albinism in that the latter is caused by a complete absence of melanin.

Some tiger breeders, seeking to take advantage of the public’s interest in these exotic-looking animals, mate closely related animals to select for this trait (see also inbreeding). Attractive specimens are often marketed to animal trainers (who feature them in for-profit animal acts) and zoos (which use them to draw visitors to their facilities and to raise awareness for animal conservation). Such inbreeding carries a risk of additional genetic defects, including crossed eyes, heart defects, and other deformities; increased cub mortality; and shorter life expectancy.