Albino Helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris). Albinism, also known as hypomelanism, is a form of hypopigmentary congenital disorder. It is characterised by a lack of melanin pigment (blacks and browns) in the eyes, skin and feathers. It results from inheritance of recessive genes. The Helmeted Guineafowl possesses a horny "helmet" (black, top centre) on the top of its head, which varies in shape according to where it lives. Its original habitat was savannah, open forests and rocky regions, but it is now widespread in and around cultivated land. This guineafowl feeds on a variety of plant and animal foods, including seeds, berries, snails, millipedes and termites. It is the ancestor of the modern domesticated guineafowl, having been introduced into Europe by the Romans. Today it is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, in the Americas and in Europe. Photographed in Swakopmund, Namibia.