Welcome to the captivating world of white animals! From the majestic and powerful Polar Bear to the elusive Arctic Wolf, these creatures all demonstrate the beauty of nature. Their white coloration can serve various purposes, such as camouflage, and thermoregulation. Sometimes, they are simply the result of a genetic mutation.
In this article, we have listed 13 really remarkable species, each with an awe-inspiring, pure white appearance. We present each of them with a photo and a detailed description, discussing their characteristics, behavior, and conservation status.
Keep reading to learn more about them!
13 White Animals: Overview
- Polar Bear
- White Lion
- Arctic Fox
- Arctic Hare
- Beluga Whale
- White-Tailed Ptarmigan
- White Peafowl
- White Dove
- Goldenrod Crab Spider
- Albino Texas Rat Snake
- Arctic Wolf
- Small White Butterfly
- Swan
White Animals: Pictures and Facts
Polar Bear
- Scientific name: Ursus maritimus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found: Arctic
The Polar Bear is a remarkable – and striking – white animal that is incredibly well adapted to the harsh environment of the Arctic.
Their thick fur, which we all consider to be white is actually translucent! It allows them to blend in with their snowy surroundings. Beneath their fur, they have black skin that does a great job at absorbing and retaining heat from the sun.
The polar bear is one of the most iconic animals and the largest land carnivore. Adult males can weigh between 900 to 1,600 pounds (400-700 kg), while females are smaller at around 330 to 650 pounds (150-300 kg).
Polar bears are apex predators, which means they are at the top of the food chain, and their favorite prey are seals. They contain a lot of fat, which is a vital source of energy for the bears, as well as providing insulation in the extreme cold environments they live in.
White Lion
- Scientific name: Panthera leo melanochaita
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found: South Africa
The White Lion is a rare and absolutely majestic creature, obviously known for its distinct white coat. This unique coloration is the result of a rare genetic condition called leucism. It causes a reduction in pigmentation, but it is different from albinism. Indeed, white lions are not albinos, and they still possess some pigmentation in their eyes, skin, and hair.
White lions are a rare variant of a lion subspecies called the Southern Lion, which is mostly found in the Timbavati region of South Africa. Usually, in nature, you want to avoid standing out, but white lions seem to be able to hunt successfully hunt and survive pretty well in their natural habitat.
Unfortunately, their rarity and outstanding appearance make them particularly vulnerable to exploitation in canned hunting and the exotic pet trade. If such animals are treated right, they can be amazing pets for humans. We know that every pet has a unique personality that separates them from others. The best way to cherish their individuality is with a pet portrait, which is a must to have.
Arctic Fox
- Scientific name: Vulpes lagopus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found: Arctic
The Arctic Fox is a small and agile mammal native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where it has to survive frigid temperatures. It can accomplish that thanks to its gorgeous thick, warm coat that actually changes color with the seasons.
In winter, its fur turns a snowy white, which provides perfect camouflage against the icy backdrop. But what we tend to forget is that, during the warmer months, the coat transitions to a brown or gray shade for effective blending into the tundra landscape.
Arctic foxes are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Their diet primarily consists of small mammals, birds, and fish. They are also known to sometimes scavenge on leftover carcasses from other predators if they come across one.
Of course, climate change represents a challenge for Arctic foxes. Warmer temperatures not only degrade the Arctic ecosystem but also facilitate the expansion of the larger red fox into the Arctic fox’s territory. This leads to increased competition for resources.
Arctic Hare
- Scientific name: Lepus arcticus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found: Arctic
The Arctic Hare is another remarkable animal capable of thriving in the extreme conditions of the Arctic tundra. Just like the Arctic fox, the Arctic hare has thick, pure-white fur in winter offering camouflage in the snow. As the seasons change, the hare’s fur transitions to a blue-gray color, which is ideal to blend in with the rocky terrain during the summer months.
Arctic hares are herbivores, feeding on whatever vegetation is available: woody plants, mosses, and lichens during the winter, and grasses, leaves, and flowers in the warmer months.
They are known for their remarkable agility, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph). This is how they manage to evade predators such as the Arctic fox and various birds of prey they share their environment with.
Arctic hare populations are currently considered stable, but like all Arctic animals,, they face potential threats from climate change.
Beluga Whale
- Scientific name: Delphinapterus leucas
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found: Arctic & Subarctic Oceans
The Beluga Whale is an extraordinary marine mammal, which is known for its striking white appearance of course, but also its distinctive rounded forehead, or “melon.” They are native to the Arctic and subarctic regions, and they are perfectly adapted to cold water environments.
Not only their white coloration (which develops as they mature) provides camouflage in the icy waters they inhabit, but they also have a thick layer of blubber (a layer of fat) that helps insulate them from the frigid temperatures.
Belugas are highly social creatures and live in groups called pods. These pods usually comprise up to 25 individuals. Belugas are known to communicate using an array of mesmerizing vocalizations, hence their nickname “canaries of the sea”. Their diet consists mainly of fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, which they locate using echolocation like other dolphins.
White-Tailed Ptarmigan (Winter Plumage)
- Scientific name: Lagopus leucura
- Type of animal: Bird
- Where found: Northwestern North America
The White-Tailed Ptarmigan is a small, ground-dwelling bird native to the mountainous regions of North America. Also known as the snow quail, it is the smallest member of the grouse family.
It lives in a high-altitude habitat, which can range from 2,000 to 5,000 meters (6,500-16,400 feet) above sea level. The white-tailed ptarmigan is known for its seasonal color changes: it boasts a mottled brown plumage in the summer months which turns white during winter, providing excellent camouflage when its environment gets snowy.
The ptarmigan is a herbivorous bird and feeds on a variety of plants, including leaves, flowers, seeds, and buds. In the winter, they adapt to what is available around them, and they mostly eat woody plants and evergreen needles.
White Peafowl
- Scientific name: Pavo cristatus
- Type of animal: Bird
- Where found: in captivity around the world
The least we can say is that the White Peafowl is an absolutely stunning bird! Its all-white plumage is the result of a genetic condition called leucism (like for the white lion), which causes a reduction in pigmentation. Again, unlike albino animals, which lack all pigmentation, leucistic peafowls still possess some coloration in their eyes.
White peafowls are not a species or even a subspecies of their own. They belong to the same species as the more common Indian or Blue Peafowl, they are just a genetic variation of this species.
They display similar behavior and characteristics, such as their famous elaborate courtship rituals. During the mating season, male white peafowls fan out their impressive, long tail feathers (called a train) – like in the picture above – and perform a dance to attract females.
This species is native to South Asia (India, Nepal…) but, unsurprisingly, they can also be found in many locations around the world due to their popularity in zoos, aviaries, and private collections.
White Dove
- Scientific name: Streptopelia risoria
- Type of animal: Bird
- Where found: Domesticated
The White Dove is an elegant bird easily recognized for its pure white plumage. This well-known and gentle creature is actually a domesticated variant of the African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) and is not found in the wild.
White doves are of course famous for being a symbol of peace, love, and purity in many different cultures and religions worldwide. They are often released during weddings, funerals, and religious ceremonies to commemorate these values.
These are very hardy and adaptable birds, as they are able to thrive in a whole range of environments, including urban and rural settings. They primarily feed on seeds, fruits, and occasionally insects.
As I was saying, white doves do not exist in nature, and they have been bred in captivity for centuries. And for all this time, they have been pretty popular pets due to their calm and gentle nature.
Goldenrod Crab Spider
- Scientific name: Misumena vatia
- Type of animal: Arachnid (Arthropod)
- Where found: Northern Hemisphere
The Goldenrod Crab Spider is a fascinating arachnid native to North America and parts of Europe and Asia. These spiders are commonly found in meadows and gardens, on flowers, and are not always white. They are actually known for their ability to change color between white and yellow, depending on the type of flower it occupies, to perfectly blend in with their surroundings.
The reason for this is that goldenrod crab spiders do not build webs to catch their prey: they are ambush predators. They rely on their perfect camouflage and strong front legs to seize their unsuspecting victims, injecting venom to immobilize and consume them. Their prey mainly consist of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Female goldenrod crab spiders are significantly larger than males. They measure 7-10 mm in body length, whereas the males only reach 3-4 mm. The females are also more vividly colored, while the males are typically a quite dull brown or gray.
Albino Texas Rat Snake
- Scientific name: Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri
- Type of animal: Reptile
- Where found: Southern United States
The Albino Texas Rat Snake is a visually striking, all-white reptile. This coloration results from a genetic mutation called albinism. Albino animals completely lack melanin, the pigment responsible for color in animals.
Albinism affects not only the snake’s skin but also its eyes. And if you have ever wondered why eyes often appear red in albino animals, this is due to the visibility of blood vessels behind the clear lens.
The Texas Rat Snake is a subspecies of the Western Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus), which is native to the United States, primarily in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. They are nonvenomous snakes, which doesn’t prevent them from being effective predators, feeding on a variety of small mammals, birds, and eggs. They are skilled climbers and can often be found in trees.
Being an albino animal represents a challenge in the wild because they are so eye-catching, making them more vulnerable to predation. They are also popular among reptile enthusiasts for their unique coloration and are often bred in captivity.
Arctic Wolf
- Scientific name: Canis lupus arctos
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found: Canadian Arctic
The Arctic Wolf, a subspecies of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), is a resilient and adaptable predator native to the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland. As we have seen for other Arctic animals on this page, its white fur provides excellent camouflage against the snowy and icy landscape of this part of the world. They also have a thick undercoat that offers insulation against the harsh, frigid temperatures.
Arctic wolves live in packs consisting of an alpha pair and their offspring. The pack size can range from a few individuals to around a dozen, which makes them highly social animals with really strong family bonds.
They are carnivorous, and the whole pack will usually hunt caribou, muskoxen, and Arctic hares. Unlike some other wolf subspecies, Arctic wolves are less directly threatened by human encroachment due to their remote habitat. However, they still face indirect challenges from climate change, which is more strongly impacting Arctic regions.
Small White Butterfly
- Scientific name: Pieris rapae
- Type of animal: Insect
- Where found: Eurasia, North Africa, North America, Australia
The Small White, also known as the Small Cabbage White, is a widespread and common butterfly belonging to the family Pieridae. It is found throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and was even introduced to North America and Australia. The small white is a very adaptable species that thrives in various habitats, including gardens, meadows, and agricultural fields.
As its name suggests, the small white is predominantly white in color – which is why it made it to this list, with black wingtips and one or two black spots on the forewings. The female typically has two black spots, while the male has only one.
We were saying that it is sometimes called small cabbage white, because cabbage (and other Brassicaceae plants) serve as the primary host plants for their larvae, and the caterpillars are considered pests for these crops. Adult butterflies feed on nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, and they contribute to their pollination.
Swan
- Scientific name: Cygnus spp.
- Type of animal: Bird
- Where found: Eurasia, North America
Swans are large, very graceful waterbirds belonging to the family Anatidae, which also includes ducks and geese, and more precisely to the genus Cygnus. There are six to seven species of swans, depending on the classification, with the most well-known being the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), and Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus).
Swans are characterized by their long, curved necks and, of course, their beautiful white plumage. Some species, however, display dark colors. It is the case of the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) and Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus).
These birds are found in various habitats such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands across the Northern Hemisphere. Some species actually migrate long distances between their breeding and their wintering grounds.
Swans form strong, monogamous pair bonds that often last for life. They are known for their elaborate courtship displays that are fantastic to watch, involving synchronized swimming and head-bobbing.
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