The Painted Wood Turtle, also known as the Albino Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima, is one of the rarest turtles in the world. They originate from Central America and the west coast of Mexico.

There are 4 subspecies of the Albino Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima, which are characterized by the red lines on their tail, shell, legs, and face.

They belong to the group of omnivorous animals and consume fish, worms, insects, grass, and fruit.

The albino turtles have a lifespan of about 20 years, but, they are often exploited for animal trading.

Albinism, which is common for both humans and animals, represents a lack of skin or hair pigmentation. It can be passed down from parents to offspring.

People with albinism may experience vision problems, such as farsightedness, extreme near, blurred vision, sensitivity, or even complete blindness. These people have a higher risk of developing skin cancer.

Albinism in animals makes their survival hard. Due to their white coloring, they can be easily noticed by predators. Also, predators with albinism may die of starvation, as they lack their natural camouflage.

Animals with albinism may also experience vision and hearing problems, which negatively affect their development.

Source:  The Hearty Soul  ||  Animal Diversity