Which pigment is lacking in white tigers that is responsible for red and yellow hues in standard Bengal tigers?
Answer
Pheomelanin
The striking difference in coat coloration stems from the absence of a specific pigment called pheomelanin. This particular pigment is responsible for producing the characteristic red and yellow tones observed in the background coat of typical Bengal tigers. When pheomelanin is absent or severely reduced in expression, the result is the creamy white or pure white base coat seen in white tigers. The stripes themselves, which can range from dark brown to jet black, still retain some pigment, likely eumelanin, which is why they are not completely white, thus demonstrating that the issue is a selective lack of one specific color-producing agent rather than a complete inability to produce color.
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