Posted by Bill Leggett on December 9, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I saw this bird at Bosque recently. I didn't even know what melanistic was. I was told that it was the only one in the Bosque that had been sighted this year. About a 50% crop of original
Posted by Doug Gilham on December 9, 2012 at 12:30 PM
A first for me, never heard of such a condition. Thanks for posting Bill, and congrats on getting a shot of this condition in this crane.
Very cool! Great catch! I'll be on the lookout for him in a couple weeks.
Sandy
Posted by David Graham on December 9, 2012 at 3:51 PM
Lessee...wouldn't that be a Harlan's Crane?
Juuuust putting on my splitter's cap for a bit of sarcasm!
I, too, will be looking for this one in a few weeks!
The comment you heard, Bill, would seem to suggest that other melanistic individuals have been seen in previous years...?
Anyone at headquarters have any comments thereupon?
Dave Graham
East River, SD
Posted by Peter Cross on December 9, 2012 at 8:17 PM
Melanism is sort of the opposite of albino. Potentially could occur with most any animal. Like with albinos there are degrees of how dark they are. I've seen partially albino deer (often called piebald) in the course of looking at over 10,000 deer in my job. I never saw any deer that I would have called melanistic to any degree. Someone else might have that sort of knowledge as to whether it occurs in deer. Nevertheless, this is a cool photo and really just reminds one to be prepared for most anything in the world of nature.
Posted by David Graham on December 11, 2012 at 6:27 AM
Just a bit of clarification re: "albino" and. "melanistic".
"Albino" and "albinism" refer to a total absence of melanin pigment from an individual of a species normally characterized by a particular pattern of melanin distribution in its skin, hair, and/or feathers. Thus albinism might be thought analogous to pregnancy in that one cannot be either a little bit albino or a little bit pregnant.
So-called "partial" or "incomplete albinism" is more accurately termed "leukism" and an animal so-affected is termed " leukistic" There are various degrees and forms of leukism. Lleukism (absence of melanin from a discrete area of skin, hair/fur, or plumage normally containing melanin pigment) is also termed " piebald". Another type of pigmentation mutation relates not to the absolute presence or absence of melanin pigment, but to deposition an abnormally reduced amount of pigment. Such "dilution" mutations result in an area or structure that is normally black or brown appearing gray or tan.
Conversely, an animal whose skin, fur/hair, or feathers contain more melanin pigment than normal are termed" melanistic".
Discussion
5 repliesSandy
Juuuust putting on my splitter's cap for a bit of sarcasm!
I, too, will be looking for this one in a few weeks!
The comment you heard, Bill, would seem to suggest that other melanistic individuals have been seen in previous years...?
Anyone at headquarters have any comments thereupon?
Dave Graham
East River, SD
"Albino" and "albinism" refer to a total absence of melanin pigment from an individual of a species normally characterized by a particular pattern of melanin distribution in its skin, hair, and/or feathers. Thus albinism might be thought analogous to pregnancy in that one cannot be either a little bit albino or a little bit pregnant.
So-called "partial" or "incomplete albinism" is more accurately termed "leukism" and an animal so-affected is termed " leukistic" There are various degrees and forms of leukism. Lleukism (absence of melanin from a discrete area of skin, hair/fur, or plumage normally containing melanin pigment) is also termed " piebald". Another type of pigmentation mutation relates not to the absolute presence or absence of melanin pigment, but to deposition an abnormally reduced amount of pigment. Such "dilution" mutations result in an area or structure that is normally black or brown appearing gray or tan.
Conversely, an animal whose skin, fur/hair, or feathers contain more melanin pigment than normal are termed" melanistic".
Dave Graham, East River, SD