First record of ocular albinism in sub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) pups on Marion Island

dc.contributor.authorShihlomule, Yinhla Desmond
dc.contributor.authorWeideman, Eleanor A.
dc.contributor.authorVan der Vyver, J.S. Fredrik
dc.contributor.authorConry, Danielle S.
dc.contributor.authorJordaan, Rowan Keith
dc.contributor.authorDe Bruyn, P.J. Nico
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-23T10:33:47Z
dc.date.available2025-05-23T10:33:47Z
dc.date.issued2024-02
dc.description.abstractWe report on an occurrence of ocular albinism in sub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) pups born on Marion Island, Prince Edward Archipelago. While previous observations have documented pups with atypical lanugo pelage colorations, this is the first case involving hypopigmentation of both fur and other tissues, including the eyes and nails. During the austral summer of 2021/22, we encountered four sub-Antarctic fur seal pups displaying this anomalous pigmentation. These anomalous individuals were found along two beaches on the island’s western side and one beach on the eastern side during an island-wide fur seal census. Although the characteristics observed strongly suggest ocular albinism, confirmation would be necessary through genetic analyses. The absence of melanin in mammalian eyes is known to compromise visual acuity, which may likely result in reduced survival beyond the weaning period, explaining the paucity of such adults in this well-observed population.
dc.description.departmentMammal Research Institute
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomology
dc.description.librarianam2025
dc.description.sdgSDG-15: Life on land
dc.description.sponsorshipOpen access funding provided by University of Pretoria.
dc.description.urihttp://link.springer.com/journal/300
dc.identifier.citationShihlomule, Y.D., Weideman, E.A., Van der Vyver, J.S.F. et al. 2024, 'First record of ocular albinism in sub‑Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) pups on Marion Island', Polar Biology, vol. 47, pp. 173-177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-023-03217-6.
dc.identifier.issn0722-4060 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1432-2056 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s00300-023-03217-6
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/102493
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2024. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
dc.subjectMarion Island
dc.subjectAlbinism
dc.subjectArctocephalus tropicalis
dc.subjectVisual acuity
dc.subjectAnomalous pigmentation
dc.subjectRheum
dc.subjectSub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis)
dc.titleFirst record of ocular albinism in sub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) pups on Marion Island
dc.typeArticle

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