FIELD REPORT
Leucistic Turtle Sighting via Drone
17th March 2022
Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives
On a drone flight with resort guests over the Ritz-Carlton West Reef, pilot Kat spotted a turtle, which she documented via the drone’s camera. The turtle was identified as a hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata). Based on calculations, the turtle was estimated to be ~70 cm in length, making it sub-adult (an individual that has passed through the juvenile period, but not yet attained typical adult characteristics).
Later that day, upon closer inspection of the photos, it was observed that the turtle presented the condition of leucism.
Leucism is a condition where animals have reduced pigmentation. It’s different from albinism, where animals have a complete loss of pigmentation, leaving them completely white with red or pink eyes. Leucism is an abnormal genetic defect, mostly detrimental to survival. Camouflage is important to all animals, particularly small turtle hatchlings that are predated on by almost everything. Animals displaying traits of leucism lack the natural patterns that disguise and conceal them or help them attract mates. Leucistic turtles also often have multiple malformations; born with genetic defects that developed during the embryonic stage. These factors mean that these turtles rarely make it past the hatchling stage.
Dr. Minnie, a turtle vet from The Olive Ridley Project, confirmed that this turtle did in fact display leucism, and based on its size of 70 cm, had reached the subadult phase, which is extremely rare in leucistic turtles.
In fact, at the time of discovery, there had not been any observations of leucistic hawksbill turtles as subadults in the wild; only as hatchlings being born.