Two albino alligators have taken up residence in the Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm, currently home to more than 65,000 marine animals.
"Our goal at Atlantis is to educate guests on different aquatic animals and to provide the best marine animal experiences in the world,” says Natasha Christie, director, The Lost Chambers Aquarium.
“After many months of research and careful consideration, The Lost Chambers Aquarium team decided to add these two rare albino alligators having received them from a farm in Florida.
"Albino alligators are the rarest amongst their cold-blooded relatives and are found in USA and in China. Their genetic white skin color gives them a truly intriguing appearance," Christie added.
The two reptiles can now be seen at The Lost Chambers Aquarium, after they completed their quarantine period.
"The albino alligator is a rare type of alligator which would not survive in the wild and is often exploited for its valued skin. It is our aim that by learning more about these fascinating reptiles, we can conserve this critically endangered species," Christie added.
The newcomers' chamber has been equipped with special heat lamps which give a temperature gradient of between 26-33C.
Read on after the ad to find out more about alligators...
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ALLIGATOR FACTS:
- An alligator's lifespan is estimated to be 50 years or more.
- Described as ‘living fossils", alligators have lived on Earth for millions of years.
- Only two countries have native alligators, the United States and China. American alligators live in south eastern areas, such as Florida and Louisiana.
- Albino alligators lack the ability to produce melanin in their skin. This genetic defect gives their skin a creamy white appearance and the eyes generally cast a pinkish hue due to the visible blood vessels in the colorless irises.
- This lack of pigment, though viewed as beautiful, has its downside. Most albino alligators rarely make it to adulthood because they are not able to camouflage themselves, making them an easy target in the wild.
- Albino alligators' skin is said to be extremely sensitive to sunlight, and excessive sun can burn their skin.
- Myth has it that if you look into the eyes of an albino alligator it will bring good luck.
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