A mutant grasshopper with an unusual pink body was found on February 16 in a house in Austin, Texas.
The animal was discovered by accident by a three-year-old boy while he was walking in the garden. His mother, Allison Barger, said she was so amazed by the discovery of her son that she took a picture and sent it to local news station KXAN News.
According to National Geographic wildlife explorer Victoria Hillman, the animal’s striking pink body is due to erythrism syndrome. Similar to albinism, this mutation is caused by a recessive gene, causing overproduction of red pigment in the infected animal and melanin deficiency. In humans, erythrism contributes to red hair color.
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Le syndrome d’érythrisme animal a été signalé pour la première fois en 1887 dans un museau. Le phénomène a également été observé chez les serpents, les raies et les mouffettes, mais était plus fréquent chez les sauterelles. Dans la plupart des cas, il est difficile de survivre jusqu’à l’âge adulte car leur couleur frappante les rend difficiles à camoufler et facilement détectables par les prédateurs.
IFL Science/WGNO
