Axolotl morph
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
Homozygous recessive at the Albino locus (a/a) with wild type Dark locus (D/-). Melanin synthesis is completely abolished, but xanthophores (yellow) and iridophores (iridescent) remain fully functional. The result is a bright golden yellow body with iridescent speckling and pink to red eyes. External gills are bright pink-red. One of the most visually striking axolotl morphs. Distinguished from White Albino by the presence of visible yellow pigmentation (xanthophores visible against the non-leucistic background). Genotype: D/- a/a M/- Ax/- Cu/-.
The Albino locus controls melanin synthesis via the tyrosinase enzyme. Homozygous recessive (a/a) animals completely lack the ability to synthesize melanin, eliminating all melanophore pigmentation. Xanthophores and iridophores remain functional, so an otherwise wild-type albino (D/- a/a) appears golden yellow with iridescent speckling and pink/red eyes. The "Golden Albino" phenotype. When combined with leucistic (d/d a/a), the result is the "White Albino". A white animal with pink/red eyes and no dark pigment or freckling.
How to identify it: Golden Albino (a/a with wild type D): Bright yellow/gold body with iridescent speckles. Eyes are pink to red (translucent, no melanin in iris). Gills are bright pink-red. No dark spots or freckles at any age. White Albino (d/d a/a): Pure white with pink/red eyes. No yellow coloration (xanthophores not visible against white background). Carriers (A/a) are visually indistinguishable from A/A.
Golden Albino follows a recessive inheritance pattern, carried on the Albino (Amelanistic) allele (locus Albino).
Because Golden Albino is recessive, an animal needs two copies of the allele to show the trait visually. An animal with a single copy is called het golden albino (heterozygous). A het animal looks normal but carries the gene, so pairing two het golden albino animals produces, on average, one in four visual golden albino offspring.
Melanoid Albino
Double homozygous for Melanoid (m/m) and Albino (a/a). The melanoid mutation removes iridophores, and the albino mutation removes melanin. The combination produces a pale yellow to cream animal with no iridescence and no dark pigment. Eyes are pink/red. Less visually distinct than either single mutation because both major pigment types are reduced. Primarily xanthophore (yellow) coloration remains.
White Albino
Double homozygous recessive for both the Dark/Leucistic locus (d/d) and the Albino locus (a/a). The leucistic gene prevents melanophore migration into the skin, and the albino gene eliminates melanin synthesis entirely. The result is a pure white to pale pink animal with pink/red eyes. No dark pigment anywhere, including the eyes. This is the key difference from a standard leucistic (which has dark eyes). White Albino is extremely common in the pet trade because breeders frequently cross leucistic and albino lines, and many "pink" or "white" axolotls sold in pet stores are actually White Albinos rather than pure leucistics.
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