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News Story
Updated: 09/16/2012 07:36:19PM

Rare white sea turtles hatch in New Smyrna Beach

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH (AP) — Two rare white sea turtles have been found along Florida’s east coast.

One was found at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve along the coast of Flagler and St. Johns counties. The other in New Smyrna Beach.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports the unusual coloration of the two turtle hatchlings is known as leucistic, or a lack of pigment.

Bonnie Breitbeil with the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens says leucistic animals are uncommon in the wild. She notes that they can become easy targets for prey since they lack the natural coloring to help them blend into their surroundings.




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