Piebald

Piebald is a term used to describe animals, especially horses, that have a pattern of pigmented spots on an unpigmented (white) background of hair, feathers or scales. The spots are generally irregular and can be of any color. The term is also used to describe similar patterns in some other forms of life, such as birds and snakes.

Etymology

The word "piebald" originates from the combination of "pie," from "magpie," and "bald," meaning "white patch" or "blot". The reference to magpie is derived from the black and white plumage of the magpie bird.

Genetics

Piebald patterns can be caused by different genetic mechanisms, most commonly through the action of the gene KIT, a dominant gene that is also involved in a variety of other coat color patterns. The piebald gene is not a simple one-gene, one-pattern rule, but rather a complex of interactions.

In Animals

Piebald patterns have been seen in many species of domestic animals (such as dogs, cats, horses, and birds) as well as in some wild animals (like snakes, deer, and foxes).

Horses

In horses, the term "piebald" is only used to describe horses with black and white spotting patterns. Horses with other colors and white are usually called "skewbald."

In Humans

Piebaldism is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of melanocyte development, which is characterized by a white forelock and multiple symmetrical hypopigmented or depigmented macules.

See Also

• Leucism
• Melanism
• Albinism in humans
• Albinism in animals

References

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