White southern right whale calf underwater, Eubalaena australis

White southern right whale calf underwater, Eubalaena australis. About five per cent of southern right whales are born white due to a condition known as grey morphism and will gradually turn dark as they age. They are not albino (which is a complete lack of pigmentation). Sometimes referred to as "brindled", the white coloration is a recessive genetic trait and only lasts a few months. Typically, but not always, white calves will become much darker as they mature but will still somewhat lighter than normal even as adults. Puerto Piramides, Chubut, Argentina, Eubalaena australis, natural history stock photograph, photo id 38277
White southern right whale calf underwater, Eubalaena australis. About five per cent of southern right whales are born white due to a condition known as grey morphism and will gradually turn dark as they age. They are not albino (which is a complete lack of pigmentation). Sometimes referred to as "brindled", the white coloration is a recessive genetic trait and only lasts a few months. Typically, but not always, white calves will become much darker as they mature but will still somewhat lighter than normal even as adults. Puerto Piramides, Chubut, Argentina

Species: Southern Right Whale, Eubalaena australis
Location: Puerto Piramides, Chubut, Argentina
Image ID: 38277
Format: Digital 2:3
Keywords: animal, animalia, argentina, artiodactyla, atlantic, balaenidae, ballena, cetacea, cetacean, chordata, chubut, eubalaena australis, golfo nuevo, mammal, mammalia, marine mammal, patagonia, peninsula valdes, puerto piramides, right whale, southern right whale, underwater, valdes peninsula, whale, white calf
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