©Wolfgang Kaehler

Dec. 24: Gonzales Videla, Paradise Bay, Antarctica

 

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Gentoo penguin colony at the Chilean station Gonzales Videla, Paradise Bay, Antarctica

Leucism (occasionally spelled leukism) is a general term for the phenotype resulting from defects in pigment cell differentiation and/or migration from the neural crest to skin, hair, or feathers during development. This results in either the entire surface (if all pigment cells fail to develop) or patches of body surface (if only a subset are defective) having a lack of cells capable of making pigment.

Lucistic Gentoo penguin (a defect in pigment cell differentiation)

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Algae and ice

Posted December 25, 2013 | Categories: Blog, Photography, and Travel. Tags: Antarctica, Gentoo penguins, Gonzales Videla, Leucism, lucistic, Paradise Bay, and Seabourn Quest.

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