White is a neutral color; a color that displays coolness and calm, as well as innocence.
Some animal species can be normally born white, while some white animals are also outliers within their species. We call these outlier animals ‘albinos’. In this article, we’ll focus primarily on animals that are naturally white, but also touch on some remarkable albino animals.
List of Animals that are White
1. Albino Echidna
| Scientific Name | Tachyglossus aculeatus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 17 inches |
| Habitat | Forests |
Native to New Guinea, the echidna is an interesting animal. Primarily, this mammal species is brown or yellow, but you’ll also find albino echidnas that are all-white.
2. Albino Python
| Scientific Name | Python bivittatus |
| Classification | Reptile |
| Size | Up to 6 feet |
| Habitat | Rainforests |
The python is one of the scariest snake species in the world. It doesn’t have venom, but it kills its prey through strangulation. The albino version of the Burmese python is by far the most common variation of this animal.
3. Arctic Fox
| Scientific Name | Vulpes lagopus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 27 inches |
| Habitat | Arctic |
Many people connect the white color of animals to cold and the Arctic, and that can be true for the Arctic fox. This white cute animal is well adapted to living in cold conditions; from its thick fur to its round shape, every part of its body is designed to help it survive the cold, although it also often falls prey to larger animals like wolves or bears.
4. Arctic Hare
| Scientific Name | Lepus arcticus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 4 inches |
| Habitat | Arctic |
We have another animal from the Arctic that is white, which is the arctic hare. The body of this hare is made up of 20% fat, which allows it to survive extreme colds. It’s also very fast, as it can run with speeds of up to 40 mph, allowing it to escape some of its common predators.
5. Arctic Wolf
| Scientific Name | Canis lupus arctos |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 5ft long |
| Habitat | Forests, open areas |
The arctic wolf is the apex predator of the Arctic. Along with the polar bear, they share a great deal of prey, although they prefer to avoid each other. The arctic wolf can survive temperatures as low as -53 degrees Celsius (-63 degrees Fahrenheit).
6. Beluga Whale
| Scientific Name | Delphinapterus leucas |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 5ft long |
| Habitat | Forests, open areas |
The beluga whale is a white species of whale identifiable by its strong protruding nose and forehead. They are found throughout the high arctic regions including northern Alaska, Canada, and Russia. While adult beluga whales are white, babies are born grey. Like many whales and dolphins, they’re highly sociable creatures with high emotional intelligence.
7. Domestic Cat
| Scientific Name | Felis catus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 20 inches |
| Habitat | Domestic |
Domestic cats are often white. These gentle creatures have captivated human hearts since the times of Cleopatra. Today, they’re seen as indispensable parts of human households and human companions. You can get cats with a range of different coat colors, but some breeds such as the Persian Cat from the Angora region are predominantly white.
8. Domestic Yak
| Scientific Name | Bos grunniens |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 40 inches in length |
| Habitat | Himalaya, Tibet, India |
The domestic yak is a large type of cattle typical for the regions of Tibet and the Himalayas. It’s a very popular working animal that is known for its bulky, sturdy build and resilient nature. You’ll be able to find this animal in different colors, including white.
9. Giant Panda
| Scientific Name | Ailuropoda melanoleuca |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 6 feet |
| Habitat | Forests and mountains |
The giant panda is considered to be an endangered species. This beautiful animal mostly lives in the temperate forests of China and mountains. This bamboo-eating animal is often seen in zoos and it gets a lot of attention because of its relaxed demeanor and friendly nature.
10. Goat
| Scientific Name | Capra hircus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 16 to 23 inches |
| Habitat | Domestic |
Like the sheep, the goat has been around for centuries. While it can be found in different colors and patterns, the domestic goat has been an important source of food for humans. It’s also a sturdy animal that can survive many different weather conditions, including the harshest ones.
11. Harp Seal
| Scientific Name | Pagophilus groenlandicus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 6 ft 7 in |
| Habitat | Arctic |
Like many other animals found in the Arctic, the harp seal is also all-white. It has to use this coloration to blend in with the environment, or else it is at the risk of getting hunted by other larger predators like arctic wolves and polar bears.
12. Honduran White Bat
| Scientific Name | Ectophylla alba |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 2 inches |
| Habitat | Evergreen forests |
The Honduran white bat is a true rarity. It primarily lives in the evergreen forests of Honduras. The species was only discovered in 1892, but not much has been known about this animal before that.
13. House Mouse
| Scientific Name | Mus musculus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 4.3 inches |
| Habitat | Urban areas, forests |
Like rats, mice have often been a part of scientific research. However, many people today also have these shy little mammals at home as pets, and they are often found in the white color, too.
14. Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin
| Scientific Name | Sousa Chinensis |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 13 inches |
| Habitat | Indopacific Ocean |
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, or the Chinese white dolphin, is a vulnerable dolphin species that live in the Indopacific ocean. Friendly and elegant, the dolphin finds itself vulnerable amid human disturbances that actively remove the habitat for the dolphin.
15. Mountain Goat
| Scientific Name | Oreamnos americanus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 3.3 ft |
| Habitat | Mountains |
The mountain goat has been around for millions of years. It inhabits the mountain ranges of western North America. Because it lives in a cold habitat with a lot of snow, it has thick fur and white coloration, helping it to stay safe from predators.
16. Mute Swan
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor |
| Classification | Bird |
| Size | Up to 59 inches |
| Habitat | Lakes |
Swans are the symbol of elegance and grace. Although they can get very aggressive towards potential predators and enemies, they’re seen as a peaceful species overall. There’s just something special about observing swans swim about gracefully in a lake.
17. Oriental Tree Squirrel
| Scientific Name | Callosciurus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 11 inches |
| Habitat | Forests, rainforests |
The name “callosciurus” literally translates to “beautiful squirrel”. The oriental tree squirrel is sometimes found in white and its habitat is the rainforests of Asia – more precisely, southern China, Bangladesh, and parts of India.
18. Polar Bear
| Scientific Name | Ursus maritimus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 8 ft (standing) |
| Habitat | Arctic |
Who could forget about the polar bear? This might be one of the first animals you think about when talking about animals that are white. Not only is it the largest known bear species in the world, but also the largest land carnivore. It can be very aggressive and even brutal, but that’s what it needs to do to survive.
19. Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus norvegicus domestica |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 12 inches |
| Habitat | Urban areas |
Over the many years of science, rats have been important contributors. White rats are usually connected to labs, so they are sometimes also called lab rats. Rats will vary in color – you might find brown, white, and other colors of rats.
20. Rock Ptarmigan
| Scientific Name | Lagopus muta |
| Classification | Bird |
| Size | 14 inch |
| Habitat | Rocks, mountains |
The rock ptarmigan is another bird species that can be all-white, but it is also found in other color variations. In Japanese, this bird is called Raicho, which translates to thunderbird. It’s primarily a sedentary species that like to stay in one habitat.
21. Samoyed Dog
| Scientific Name | Canis familiaris |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 23.5 inches |
| Habitat | Domestic |
While there are hundreds of dog breeds around the world, the Samoyed is one of the rare dog breeds that is all-white. This friendly dog with long, white fur originally stems from Siberia, but can today be found all around the world as one of the most popular breeds in the world.
22. Seagull
| Scientific Name | Larus delawarensis |
| Classification | Bird |
| Diet | Omnivores |
| Habitat | Beaches and Seasides |
Seagulls are primarily white although some have areas of feathers that are black and grey. Their white feathers may be a result of their need to blend into the clouds when flying out over the ocean. You can find seagulls around the world. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything from hot chips to carrion meat.
23. Sheep
| Scientific Name | Ovis aries |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 46 inches |
| Habitat | Domestic |
Who could forget about sheep, one of the oldest friends of humans? They’re known for their thick white fur that is also used for making clothes and other materials. Since ancient times, the sheep have been an integral part of human existence and will continue to be that in the future.
24. Snowshoe Hare
| Scientific Name | Lepus americanus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 18-20 inches |
| Habitat | Grasslands, forests |
The snowshoe hare is called that way because of the large size of its hind legs. This small hare species is often prey to other animals, but it is very good at camouflaging itself in the snow, especially if it dons the white color.
25. Snowy Owl
| Scientific Name | Bubo scandiacus |
| Classification | Bird |
| Size | 27 inches |
| Habitat | Arctic regions |
White and mysterious, the snowy owl is present in most Arctic habitats in the world, particularly in North America. It’s very adaptable and capable of surviving in difficult conditions in the wild. The snowy owl hunts at night while also staying protected from predators during the day.
26. Stoat
| Scientific Name | Mustela erminea |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 12 inches |
| Habitat | Forests, grasslands |
The stoat, also sometimes called the ermine or the short-tailed weasel is a small mammal living in forests around the world. You will find this animal in all types of coloration, and one of those colorations is white.
27. Winter White Dwarf Hamster
| Scientific Name | Phodopus sungorus |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | 2-4 inches long |
| Habitat | Domestic |
If you have already owned a hamster, then you probably already know that you can find white specimens of this animal. The winter white dwarf hamster can be found in different colorations such as grey and white.
28. White Lion
| Scientific Name | Panthera leo melanochaita |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 9ft |
| Habitat | Grasslands |
The white lion is a white variation of the South African lion, which is often present in the grasslands of Serengeti. Although the white lion is not its own species, it is only a variation that sometimes stems from the said lion species. It is usually all-white, but it still has all the characteristics of a lion.
29. White Tiger
| Scientific Name | Panthera tigris tigris |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Size | Up to 3,6 ft |
| Habitat | Rainforests |
The white tiger belongs to the group of animals called the Bengal tiger. Because of different genetical structures, the white tiger develops a cooler, white coloration with black stripes, which is different compared to the usual orange coloration of the Bengal tiger.
Conclusion
Most animals that are white live in colder areas, but not necessarily so. Some of them will use their white coloration to blend in with the snowy environment. Other animals will simply be albino or white versions of their animal. In either case, white animals are captivating to watch.
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