AMELANISM IN Trachemys venusta IN CAPTIVITY

Abstract

Amelanism can be defined as the lack of melanin (black-brown pigments) from all or parts of the skin, including eyes, as a result of the congenital and heritable failure of the pigment-producing cells during embryonic development. Amelanistic (and albino) reptiles can produce the red-yellow pigment xanthin thus retaining these colorations. To our knowledge, there are no records of amelanism on captive-reared freshwater turtles Trachemys venusta. Herein, we describing the aberrant color of three specimens (two adults and one juvenile): red pigmentation of the iris of the eye, and the rest of the body with smoky white, yellow, green and orange shades. These kind of color aberration is quite rare in nature because the affected individuals may be disadvantaged in their environment.