Tigers’ striking coats capture public interest, leading to curiosity about unusual or mythical color variations.
The Truth About Pink Tigers
Naturally occurring pink tigers do not exist. Tiger coloration is determined by genetics, specifically by two types of melanin pigments: eumelanin (black/brown) and pheomelanin (red/yellow). No known genetic mutation produces pink fur. While conditions like albinism result in white fur and often red eyes due to a complete absence of melanin, and leucism causes a reduction in pigment leading to a white or creamy coat with pale stripes, neither produces pink fur.
Sources of the Pink Tiger Myth
Misconceptions about pink tigers stem from various sources, including artistic creations, digital manipulations, online hoaxes, and misinformation. Environmental factors like specific lighting or photographic filters can also inadvertently lend a reddish or pinkish cast to a tiger’s fur. The rare “golden” or “strawberry” tiger, with its lighter, sometimes blonde or reddish-blonde coat, might also be misconstrued as pinkish.
Actual Rare Tiger Colorations
While pink tigers are not real, several rare and scientifically recognized tiger color variations do exist, each resulting from specific genetic mutations.
White Tigers
White tigers have a white or creamy coat with dark stripes and typically blue eyes. This coloration is due to leucism, a genetic condition reducing overall pigmentation, particularly pheomelanin, but not eumelanin. Unlike albinos, which lack all melanin and have red eyes, white tigers retain some pigment. Their white coat is caused by a recessive gene mutation. Most white tigers in captivity result from inbreeding to perpetuate this trait, often leading to health issues.
Golden Tigers
Golden tigers, also known as golden tabby or strawberry tigers, are a rare color morph. They have lighter orange or golden fur with paler, often reddish-brown stripes. This distinct coloration is caused by a recessive gene, likely the “wide band gene” (CORIN gene mutation), affecting pigment distribution along the hair shaft. Golden tigers exhibit softer fur and can be larger than their orange relatives. Though historically wild, they are now almost exclusively found in captivity, often due to selective breeding.
Black Tigers (Pseudo-Melanistic)
So-called “black tigers” are not truly melanistic; their patterns are not completely obscured by excess dark pigment. Instead, they are pseudo-melanistic, with significantly broadened and merged black stripes that largely obscure their orange background. This unique pattern is caused by a genetic mutation in the Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) gene. Pseudo-melanistic tigers are consistently observed in India’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, where their prevalence is attributed to the isolated population and inbreeding.