Different Shades of Alligator

Nature can, at times, be genuinely mind-blowing. In the alligator family, there exists a type that has melanism, a condition that makes them morphologically dark because of high melanin deposits. On the other hand, there are albino gators that cannot produce melanin to save their lives. Sadly many albinos do not get to live their entire lives. Too much sun burns their skin, and they are an easy catch in the wild because they do not camouflage well. Myth has it that looking into the eyes of these unique creatures will bring a streak of luck. The American Alligator is also a state reptile in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida.