The difference between Piebald, Malanistic, and Albino

[Michelle_Nelson]

Piebalds:

The term Piebald means "of different colors".  This term is usually associated with horses, though we normally refer to such horses as pintos, paints, or Appaloosas. A piebald animal is one whose hair or fur has a spotted, rather than a solid color pattern.  Depending on what part of the U.S you are from piebald deer are sometimes referred to as pintos.

A genetic variation or "defect" is what produces the piebald condition in deer.  It is not a result of parasites or diseases. Piebald deer are colored white and brown similar to a pinto horse. Sometimes they appear almost entirely white. 

Many piebald deer have some of the following conditions associated with the coloration; bowing of the nose (Roman nose), short legs, arching spine (scoliosis), and short lower jaws.

It is said that Piebalds consist of less than 1% of the deer population

Many people confuse the piebald deer with the albino deer.


Albino:

Albino deer are totally white, and true albinos have pink eyes from a lack of pigement in their eyes. Albanism results from recessive genes.

White deer are naturally easily mistaken for albinos, which they are not. The true albino, besides having all white hair, also has pink eyes and pink hooves, something the white deer do not have.

Both the white deer and the albino deer, and perhaps, to a lesser extent the piebald deer, are at a disadvantage in the wild as they are easily spotted except in conditions of heavy snow. This lack of camouflage, along with poorer health keep the population of these abnormally colored deer low.

Melanistic:

Melanistic deer are the complete oposite of an Albino.  Being very dark, often approaching totally black. Melanism results from overproduction of pigment and is far less common than albinism or Piebald.



 

[wilsongideon]

So these would be piebalds? this is the first year i have ever seen any

[alecvg]

Man, those things are so cool, I saw a piebald blacktail up in BC last year, pretty cool looking.

[jackelope]

those'd be piebald.

[lokidog]

Cool!  I want one.

[bucklucky]

You want one of these 

[ouchfoss]

I actually have a few photos of a melanistic yearling doe from about 2 months ago. It was very dark compared to its mom. It wasnt quite black but definetly out of the normal for how dark its coat was. I'll see if I can find the pics.
I saw a piebald doe standing right along highway 108 not to far from Kamilche and it had 2 yearling does with it and one was a piebald as well. Never had a camera with me at the time though. 

[jackelope]

melanistic?
courtesy of Ricochet...

[Michelle_Nelson]

Yes wilsongideon, those are piebald deer. 

Come to think of it I have a yearling WT Piebald hide tanned in the shop.  Forgot all about it til I came back to this thread. 

I have worked on 3 piebalds and have skinned out several others.

[wilsongideon]

well i will stop calling them half albinos then . . .thanks

[jackelope]

there's no such thing as half albino or part albino....they either are or they aren't albino. I had a couple albino snakes so I get into this stuff a little....sorry.

[NWBREW]

Are melanistic legal to kill? I saw one a few years back...pretty cool looking. The one I saw was a doe also. Are there any melanistic bucks or is it just a doe thing? 

[Michelle_Nelson]

there's no such thing as half albino or part albino....they either are or they aren't albino.

Kinda like saying your a little bit pregnant.  You either are or your not. 

Yes, bucks can be either of the three.  Melanistic, Piebald, or Albino.  There are more does than bucks so naturally you would see more doe with color deformities.

[ouchfoss]

I finally found the pic of that melanistic doe. We seen this deer back in late December and it had really long hair compared to it momma nearby and Im not sure if thats why its coat is so dark or if its just somethng that happens around this time of year. Still an odd looking deer though.

[Pathfinder101]

Cool thread guys!  Never seen any of the above myself...

[DeerHarvester]

I bet all the deer what to be Malanistic, Nice and warm in the winter!   

[Michelle_Nelson]

Ouchfoss what is with the cream spot on it's side?   I do not believe a deer has to be totaly black to be considered melanistic.  That is just a funky looking deer with that long hair.   

Maybe momma had a love affair with Sasquatch, lol.

[wilsongideon]

thats awesome pictures of the malanistic deer. . . very cool

[boneaddict]

Looks like a melanistic with HAIR LOSS.   Mels are any amount of degree sort of like piebald.  I have been breeding Mel pheasants and it is a genetic trait that stays.

[bucklucky]

Looks like a ......Beer to me 

Mich , that would be a Bear / Deer cross if you didnt get that LOL!!

[ouchfoss]

Ouchfoss what is with the cream spot on it's side?   I do not believe a deer has to be totaly black to be considered melanistic.  That is just a funky looking deer with that long hair.   

Maybe momma had a love affair with Sasquatch, lol.

  Forks isnt too far away, it could have been a warewolf too. 

That deer definetly has long hair though. Of all the years ive been hunting, I've never seen one quite as "sheeplike" as that one. It must have something going on with its hair or skin to be so dark colored and fluffy. Im hoping that deer makes it through the winter so I can see if it still has the dark color later on in the summer and maybe get some more pictures.