The white tiger (ashy tiger) is a leucistic morph of the tiger, typically the Bengal tiger. It is occasionally reported in the Indian wilderness. It has the typical black stripes of a tiger, but its coat is otherwise white or near-white, and it has blue eyes.

Mar 23, 2025 · While the term “albino tiger” is commonly used, it is technically incorrect. True albinism in tigers would result in completely white fur, pink eyes, and pale skin, due to a genetic defect that prevents the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for most coloration in …

May 17, 2021 · But what exactly is a white tiger? is it an albino tiger?. Some people claim that white tigers are a special and separate subspecies of tiger that’s endangered and close to extinction . And some also say that they are albinos.

Contrary to popular belief, white tigers are not a subspecies of tiger, but rather a Bengal or Siberian tiger with a rare colour mutation called leucism. It is this recessive gene that causes a lack of pigmentation in the fur, resulting in its unique white coat.

These white Bengal tigers are sometimes mistakenly called “albino,” however, the presence of black stripes, as well as black pigment in their eyes, bars them from being true albinos. Instead, white Bengal tigers are actually “leucistic,” meaning they lose pigmentation in their skin and fur.

Oct 17, 2022 · How many tiger species are there? Learn about all 9 types of tigers, including population size, weight, range, illegal trade in tiger parts, and unique features.

Jun 3, 2013 · The white tiger is not a true albino, in that although pheomelanin is largely absent, eumelanin is present in the eyes and in the hairs of stripes [2, 5]. Some white tigers also show strabismus, probably due to the reduction of pigment in the retinal epithelium and iris during eye development [ 8 ].

The white tiger is a variant of the Bengal tiger, the result of a recessive gene that affects its coloration. It lives mainly in Southeast Asia, especially in areas with dense vegetation and water. It is a carnivore that hunts alone and feeds on large mammals such as deer and wild boar.

Mar 10, 2025 · The simple answer is no, a white tiger is not an albino. While their striking white coat might suggest albinism at first glance, the reality is far more nuanced.

Jul 15, 2022 · They had been seen in the wild around Rewa for half a century, but were not true albino tigers, having brownish stripes on an off-white background and blue eyes (true albinos lack any pigment, have pink eyes and are snowy white all over). The Maharaja named the white male tiger cub he first obtained Mohan.