leucism
noun
leu·cism ˈlü-ˌsi-zəm 
: an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation affecting various animals (such as birds, mammals, and reptiles) that is marked by overall pale color or patches of reduced coloring and is caused by a genetic mutation which inhibits melanin and other pigments from being deposited in feathers, hair, or skin
leucistic
lü-ˈsi-stik
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web If the eyes are a normal color for that species, the bird has leucism. 
al, 20 Apr. 2022 Adams attributes the unusual coloring to leucism, a condition where melanin is only partially lost and some parts of the penguin's body retain color, reports Live Science. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2021 Instead, the coloration comes from a genetic condition called leucism, which is a partial loss of pigmentation that still leaves dark coloring in the animal’s eyes, tail hair and spots. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2020 The giraffe, in the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy in southeast Kenya, has a rare genetic condition called leucism that causes partial loss of pigmentation in its skin. NBC News, 18 Nov. 2020 Unlike albinism, animals with leucism continue to produce a dark pigment in their soft tissue, meaning the giraffe's eyes are dark. Eoin Mcsweeney, CNN, 17 Nov. 2020 The hatchling is believed to have a genetic condition called leucism, which causes animals to have reduced pigmentation. Fox News, 19 Oct. 2020 According to the Olive Ridley Project, sea turtles with leucism are rare, largely because odds of survival in the ocean are slim. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2020 Sea turtles with leucism have black eyes and a small amount of pigment on their skin. Fox News, 19 Oct. 2020 See More
al, 20 Apr. 2022 Adams attributes the unusual coloring to leucism, a condition where melanin is only partially lost and some parts of the penguin's body retain color, reports Live Science. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2021 Instead, the coloration comes from a genetic condition called leucism, which is a partial loss of pigmentation that still leaves dark coloring in the animal’s eyes, tail hair and spots. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2020 The giraffe, in the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy in southeast Kenya, has a rare genetic condition called leucism that causes partial loss of pigmentation in its skin. NBC News, 18 Nov. 2020 Unlike albinism, animals with leucism continue to produce a dark pigment in their soft tissue, meaning the giraffe's eyes are dark. Eoin Mcsweeney, CNN, 17 Nov. 2020 The hatchling is believed to have a genetic condition called leucism, which causes animals to have reduced pigmentation. Fox News, 19 Oct. 2020 According to the Olive Ridley Project, sea turtles with leucism are rare, largely because odds of survival in the ocean are slim. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2020 Sea turtles with leucism have black eyes and a small amount of pigment on their skin. Fox News, 19 Oct. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from German Leucismus, from Greek leukós "clear, white" + German -ismus -ism — more at light entry 1
First Known Use
1878, in the meaning defined above
- book stamp
- book support
- book table
- book tile
- hang on a moment
- hang on someone's every word
- hang on to
- hang one on
- hang one's hat
- hang one's hat on
- hang one's head
- hang one's head in shame
- hang out one's shingle
- hang out to dry
- hang over
- hang ten
- hang tight
- hang time
- hang together
- hang tough
- hang with
- hang-fair
- hang-up
- hang-ups
- hang/burn in effigy