>From:    Regina Harrison <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: albino ferrets
>If all ferrets were originally sable, how did albinos become so widespread?
 
Same reason we have both blond and brunett people.  Mutations.  Same reason
we have different species and eveything else.
 
A gene gets slightly modified but instead of harming the animal it either is
neutral in effect or aids it somehow (with domestic animals the people
breeding the animal enough to breed it "extra")
 
Many people bred specifically for the white because in hunting with ferrets
they thought the white animal would be in less danger of being killed along
with the prey.  Not sure if albino fitch pelkts had any value so I can't
answer on that.
 
White house tabbys, horses, and cows are all common although they were a
short lived anomally in the wild version.  The common albino traits in
ferrets do not seem to have the problems present in other species.  Rats and
mice are the only other really common albino species I know about.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1909]