Photograph by Louis Shackleton.
Odocoileus virginianus -- leucistic piebald white-tailed deer, Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, Va., 11 October, 2013. Mr. Shackleton adds, "I was up there for four days for fall bird migration, but constant rain meant that this was the only shot of note for the entire trip."
10 Comments
https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad · 28 October 2013
https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad said:
Camouflage. You're doing it wrong.
Glen Davidson
You know, I wonder. Would a predator seeing this critter, including a human hunter, perhaps not pause for a bit, for a double-take, long enough to wonder what the hell he was seeing and if he could trust his eyes? And might that not give the deer a couple of extra seconds to bolt? I'm suggesting it might be a good camouflage strategy for a few rare deer to have anomalous coloring so that at first glance they don't look like deer. But it would have to remain a rare phenomenon or it would lose its startle effect. Could this be a beneficial mutation that would cease to be beneficial if it became common?
Karen S. · 28 October 2013
First time I've seen a deer with this color!
MememicBottleneck · 28 October 2013
I took some pictures of one last November while deer hunting in Michigan. The one I saw was a 1st year male, too small to shoot. The coloring is caused by an inherited "defective" gene. Reasons why they are rare is not limited to being a trophy or camouflage. The "defect" can also cause short legs, internal organ problems, scoliosis, an overbite and a curved nose.
Kevin B · 29 October 2013
MememicBottleneck said:
I took some pictures of one last November while deer hunting in Michigan. The one I saw was a 1st year male, too small to shoot. The coloring is caused by an inherited "defective" gene. Reasons why they are rare is not limited to being a trophy or camouflage. The "defect" can also cause short legs, internal organ problems, scoliosis, an overbite and a curved nose.
Sssh. Don't tell that lot over at Unthinkingly Denyse. They'll want to use it as proof that all mutations are deleterious.
Andy White · 29 October 2013
I have not seen such animal yet. Its a beautiful deer. I think its so rare. Does anyone know how many of this deer exist on the world currently? In which countries they live?
ksplawn · 29 October 2013
White-tailed deer are native to the New World and range over both continents.
Just Bob · 29 October 2013
What you're seeing is a rare mutation (genetic, I assume), not a piebald species of deer.
Question: Is it genetic, and is it heritable?
MememicBottleneck · 29 October 2013
Just Bob said:
What you're seeing is a rare mutation (genetic, I assume), not a piebald species of deer.
Question: Is it genetic, and is it heritable?
I believe the answer to your question is yes, yes.
Ron Okimoto · 8 November 2013
This looks more like the autoimmune disease vitiligo where the immune system attacks the melanocytes.
10 Comments
https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad · 28 October 2013
Camouflage. You're doing it wrong.
Glen Davidson
Just Bob · 28 October 2013
Karen S. · 28 October 2013
First time I've seen a deer with this color!
MememicBottleneck · 28 October 2013
I took some pictures of one last November while deer hunting in Michigan. The one I saw was a 1st year male, too small to shoot. The coloring is caused by an inherited "defective" gene. Reasons why they are rare is not limited to being a trophy or camouflage. The "defect" can also cause short legs, internal organ problems, scoliosis, an overbite and a curved nose.
Kevin B · 29 October 2013
Andy White · 29 October 2013
I have not seen such animal yet. Its a beautiful deer. I think its so rare. Does anyone know how many of this deer exist on the world currently? In which countries they live?
ksplawn · 29 October 2013
White-tailed deer are native to the New World and range over both continents.
Just Bob · 29 October 2013
What you're seeing is a rare mutation (genetic, I assume), not a piebald species of deer.
Question: Is it genetic, and is it heritable?
MememicBottleneck · 29 October 2013
Ron Okimoto · 8 November 2013
This looks more like the autoimmune disease vitiligo where the immune system attacks the melanocytes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo