Abstract

ESPINAL, Mario et al. A case of albinism in the Central American spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi, in Honduras. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2016, vol.23, n.1, pp.63-69. ISSN 0327-9383.

We report the first case of complete albinism for the Central American spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), a juvenile female from eastern Honduras. Albinism is a genetic condition reported in numerous vertebrate species. Although normally infrequent, the incidence of albinism in populations may change as a result of environmental stress, including inbreeding in isolated populations. Coat color disorders result from pleiotropic effects in mammals. Sensory organs and nerves are particularly affected by these disorders because of the shared origin of melanocytes and neurocytes in the neural crest. The instance of an albino spider monkey from eastern Honduras might result from increased inbreeding.

Keywords : Coat color; Conservation; Genetic disorder; Leucism; Mammals; Neotropic.