Leucistic white-tailed deer in Maryland, USA.

Image courtesy of S Hyde.

Leucistic deer in Maryland - Photographed by S Hyde.

This image of a young white-tailed buck was sent to us from Maryland, USA, by Mrs S Hyde. The deer appears regularly in Mrs Hyde's back yard. The fact that the deer has a little colour and dark eyes means that he is definitely not an albino, as they have no pigment at all and pinkl eyes. This deer is leucistic.

Leucism (or Leukism)
Leucism is a very unusual condition whereby the pigmentation cells in an animal or bird fail to develop properly. This can result in unusual white patches appearing on the animal, or, more rarely, completely white creatures.

Click here to see our gallery of albino and leucistic animals and birds.