Xanthochromism
Unusually yellow pigmentation in animals, often genetic or dietary.
Xanthochromism, also known as xanthochroism or xanthism, describes an animal with an unusually yellow coloration. The term comes from the Greek words *xanthos* ("yellow") and *chroma* ("color"). This condition often involves a loss of typical red pigment, which is replaced by yellow. While usually genetic, diet can also play a role. The reverse condition, where yellow pigment is lacking or absent, is called axanthism.
In birds, genetic xanthochromism is deliberately bred in some parrot species, where these birds are called "lutinos." Wild birds recorded with this condition include the yellow wagtail, wood warbler, Cape May warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, evening grosbeak, red-bellied woodpecker, scarlet tanager, northern cardinal, great spotted woodpecker, common tailorbird, crimson-breasted shrike, kākāriki, and kea. A Cornell University survey of unusual birds at feeders found that 4% of these birds were described as xanthochromistic, compared to 76% that were albinistic.
Xanthochromism is also common in fish. For example, xanthic goldfish—sometimes defined as amelanotic but distinct from albinistic goldfish—are used to study pigment development because they have only two types of pigment cells: xanthopores and iridophores.
- Field
- Biology (pigmentation)
- Known for
- Unusually yellow pigmentation in animals, often replacing red pigment
- Opposite condition
- Axanthism
Lore & Background
Xanthochromism is documented in birds and fish. In birds, genetic xanthochromism is deliberately bred in several parrot species, where such mutations are termed 'lutinos.' Wild birds recorded with xanthochromism include the yellow wagtail, wood warbler, Cape May warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, evening grosbeak, red-bellied woodpecker, scarlet tanager, northern cardinal, great spotted woodpecker, common tailorbird, crimson-breasted shrike, kākāriki, and kea. A Cornell University survey of unusual-looking birds at feeders found that 4% of such birds were described as xanthochromistic, compared with 76% albinistic.
Reader's Guide
Xanthochromism is significant as a distinct pigmentation anomaly, contrasting with albinism and axanthism. In fish, it is widely documented; xanthic goldfish, sometimes defined as amelanotic but distinct from albinistic goldfish, are commonly used to study pigmentation development because they possess only two types of pigment cells: xanthopores and iridophores. The condition highlights genetic and dietary influences on coloration, and its deliberate breeding in parrots (lutinos) demonstrates human interest in color variants. The Cornell survey provides a quantitative comparison with albinism, underscoring its relative rarity among feeder birds.
Did You Know?
- Xanthochromism is often associated with the lack of usual red pigmentation and its replacement with yellow.
- The cause is usually genetic but may also be related to the animal's diet.
- Birds exhibiting genetic xanthochromism, especially in parrots, are termed 'lutinos.'
- A Cornell University survey reported that 4% of unusual-looking birds at feeders were xanthochromistic, compared with 76% albinistic.
More in Genetic disorders with no OMIM 1-24
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