NONPIGMENTED VERSUS PIGMENTED: HEALTH VARIABLES AND GENETICS OF ALBINO FLORIDA GREEN TURTLE (CHELONIA MYDAS) HATCHLINGS COMPARED WITH NORMALLY PIGMENTED HATCHLINGS FROM THE SAME CLUTCH

At the time of hatchling emergence from a nest laid on Juno Beach, Florida, US, by a
normally pigmented green turtle (Chelonia mydas), 23 albino hatchlings and 75 normally pigmented
hatchlings were observed. This condition is rarely seen in sea turtles, and little is known about blood
analytes and genetics of albino wildlife to date. Therefore, the objective of our study was to assess and
compare morphometric measurements (mass, minimum straight carapace length, body condition
index), carapacial scute anomalies, a suite of hematologic and plasma biochemical analytes, and two
glucose analysis methodologies (glucometer and dry chemistry analysis) in albino (n¼20) versus
normally pigmented (n¼24) hatchlings from this nest. Genetic analyses were completed to identify
paternal contributions of hatchlings and to test Mendelian inheritance assumptions. Although
morphometric measurements, scute anomalies, and leukocyte morphology were similar between
albino and normally pigmented hatchlings, several differences were observed in blood analyte data:
immature erythrocytes, packed cell volume, heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, and glucose concentrations
(by both methodologies) were significantly higher, whereas absolute immature heterophils, absolute
lymphocytes, number of erythrocyte micronuclei, sodium, and chloride were significantly lower in
albino hatchlings compared with normally pigmented hatchlings. Considerations for these differences
include a stress response from sampling (e.g., timing of procedures or possibly from photosensitivity or
reduced visual acuity in albinos) and different osmoregulation, which may reflect physiologic variations
or stress. There was a small positive bias (0.10 mmol/L) with glucose by glucometer, similar to reports in
other sea turtle species and confirming its suitability for use in hatchlings. All albino hatchlings analyzed
(n¼10) were from the same father, but the normally pigmented hatchlings (n¼24) were from two other
fathers. These findings provide insight into the physiology and genetics of albinism in sea turtles.
Key words: Biochemistry, genotype, glucose, hematology, leucism, method comparison, multiple
paternity, sea turtle.