(from BBC Website)

Albino tadpoles have been discovered in a garden in Carmarthenshire. The finding is highly unusual because at least four separate blobs of albino spawn were found deposited in the pond, signalling what could be a significant population of frogs carrying the rare recessive gene for albinism.

Though no adult albino frogs were seen, their frogspawn and tadpoles are reportedly doing very well. The tadpoles have the characteristic pink eyes and off–white skin colouration.

Albino individuals of adult frogs, toads and newts have been reported in the past, though sightings are considered very rare. Cases of multiple albinistic individuals in a breeding population are even rarer.

The sighting was reported to Froglife's Wildlife Information Service – a public advice service encouraging people to get involved with amphibian and reptile conservation.

Froglife report the batches of white tadpoles suggest that a number of adults that carry genes for albinism possibly exist in the area, not just one. Usually though albino amphibians fail to live to a breeding age – their white colouration makes them very conspicuous to the various animals that depend on frogs for food.' she added.

Visit Froglife's website at: www.froglife.org.uk