Keep in mind "Leucism" is not a genetic mutation...
"Leucism" is a description of the result of some genetic mutations...
There are any number of genetic mutations that can result in "a reduction of pigmentation"... and a visual observation can conclude this without specifying what genetic mutation has taken place...
Sort of like, if your computer won't turn on... that is not enough detail to conclude what the exact problem is nor where the exact problem lies... but it is enough to conclude the computer won't turn on...
Like wise we are observing a reduction in pigment related coloration... this is not enough detail to suggest what gene is mutated nor where in the genetic structure it lies... but it is enough to conclude there is a reduction in pigment related coloration...
And we call animals with a reduction in pigment related coloration, Leucistic...
The refractive coloration including the blue blotches on the gill plates of females is not pigment related coloration. It is the result of light refractive cells. These are unrelated to pigment...
There are a plenty of examples of "Gold Dempseys" that have light brown/tan coloration, which is the result of pigmentation. But this is quite obviously "reduced" in comparison to a standard Dempsey, thus easily falling under the description of Leucistic.
Albinos have pink eyes, even though they do not possess the ability to produce pink/red. The eyes appear pink not from pigment, but from light penetrating the eyes and reflecting/refracting off of the blood vessels within the eyes. I would suggest the subtle pink undertones in the body of "Gold Dempseys" are of a similar result.
There are those who would suggest they are Xanthanic, meaning they have an abundance of yellow. But this does not in any way explain the lack of several other colors.
While we can observe some light or subtle coloration in Gold Dempseys... I've yet to see any specimen that could not easily be described as "reduced" in pigment related coloration...
"Leucism" is a description of the result of some genetic mutations...
There are any number of genetic mutations that can result in "a reduction of pigmentation"... and a visual observation can conclude this without specifying what genetic mutation has taken place...
Sort of like, if your computer won't turn on... that is not enough detail to conclude what the exact problem is nor where the exact problem lies... but it is enough to conclude the computer won't turn on...
Like wise we are observing a reduction in pigment related coloration... this is not enough detail to suggest what gene is mutated nor where in the genetic structure it lies... but it is enough to conclude there is a reduction in pigment related coloration...
And we call animals with a reduction in pigment related coloration, Leucistic...
The refractive coloration including the blue blotches on the gill plates of females is not pigment related coloration. It is the result of light refractive cells. These are unrelated to pigment...
There are a plenty of examples of "Gold Dempseys" that have light brown/tan coloration, which is the result of pigmentation. But this is quite obviously "reduced" in comparison to a standard Dempsey, thus easily falling under the description of Leucistic.
Albinos have pink eyes, even though they do not possess the ability to produce pink/red. The eyes appear pink not from pigment, but from light penetrating the eyes and reflecting/refracting off of the blood vessels within the eyes. I would suggest the subtle pink undertones in the body of "Gold Dempseys" are of a similar result.
There are those who would suggest they are Xanthanic, meaning they have an abundance of yellow. But this does not in any way explain the lack of several other colors.
While we can observe some light or subtle coloration in Gold Dempseys... I've yet to see any specimen that could not easily be described as "reduced" in pigment related coloration...