Piebald Melanistic Deer
Unlike the albino deer which has pink eyes a pink nose and pinkish hooves piebald deer have normal brown eyes and nose with black hooves like a normal whitetail.
Piebald melanistic deer. Bowing of the nose roman nose overbite short legs arching spine scoliosis short lower mandible internal organ deformities. It is believed that both parents must carry the recessive gene for there to be a chance that they will produce piebald fawns. Most melanistic whitetails are black across their entire body with the exception of the hair around the ventral area under the tail. Melanistic deer lack distinct variations in color such as brown or white pelage.
Depending on what part of the country you are from these deer are sometimes referred to as pintos and come in various amounts of white and brown. With very low odds for this genetic mutation and low reported harvest viewing a wild melanistic whitetail is a true rarity even for deer biologists who work where they are most prevalent. A rare pitch black deer was recently spotted and photographed about 150 miles north of grand rapids fox19 now wxix tv reported. Melanistic whitetails are a true gem of whitetail color morphs.
Piebald deer can have varying amounts of white hair. Often confused with an albino a piebald deer is slightly more common and is also a genetic mutation. Some piebald deer can be almost pure white except small patches of regular brown hair while others carry just patches of white hair with otherwise normal markings. Melanism results from overproduction of pigment and is less common than albinism.
But an even greater rarity exists. Each fall deer hunters see or harvest albino or piebald whitetails and discuss what a rare occurrence that is. Some ranging from a very slight amount of white hair to almost an all white coat. Melanistic deer are very dark sometimes even black.
Their coloration is due to a rare inherited genetic variation defect that affects less than one percent of the white tailed deer population. Piebald deer have patches of white hair but are otherwise normally colored. Melanism is a random genetic anomaly. In addition to its rare coat a piebald deer will likely have other issues including.
Piebaldism is a recessive trait. Piebalds are thought to be more common than albinos. According to the quality deer management association qdma the.