• Amber Bridges/Egological Associates Inc
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    What is small and cute and white all over? This turtle! According to ABC, there have been two sightings of leucistic sea-turtle hatchlings in Florida in the past few weeks. This sudden surge has scientists wondering what is making this type of swimmer so popular.

  • Amber Bridges/Egological Associates Inc
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    Leucistic sea turtles have a lack of pigment that results in them taking on a rich cream color. This blond appearance obviously sets them apart from other sea turtles, though it is different from albinism. 

  • Alamy
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    "It's a lack of pigment, so it's not exactly like albinism," Melissa Ranly, the director of sea-turtle rehabilitation at the Volusia Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Fla., told ABC. "They actually have pigment in their eyes so they have brownish or blackish eyes instead of the pink you see in albinos."

  • Amber Bridges/Egological Associates Inc
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    Researchers are unsure why two leucistic turtles have appeared in such a short time span, but it could just be pure chance.

  • Alamy
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    Of the two oddly tinted turtles that popped out of the surf, one was able to make its way back to the waves on its own. The other hatchling was cared for by Ranly and her team.

  • dolanh/flickr
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    The rescued baby turtle was treated to around-the-clock-care. This included his own personal pool filled with vegetation and fish filets to munch on.

  • robstephaustralia/flickr
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    After a few weeks of four-star service, the hatchling gained enough strength to be released back into the wild. The sea turtle was taken out to around 50 miles off shore and let go. 

  • Georgia Sea Turtle Center/facebook
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    "We feed them up and get them strong and then take them out on a boat ride to the seaweed line to release them," Ranly said of the hatchlings to ABC. "That's their shelter and their food source where they'll spend a good portion of their first year."

  • Tybee Sea Turtle Project/facebook
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    Ranly and other conservationists are used to finding struggling sea turtles that need their help. What set this one apart was its skin tone. Leucistic turtles tend to be a rare sight.

  • Alamy
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    Next: See Amazing Albino Animals!

    White, brown or green -- conservationists are dedicated to giving every sea turtle a shot at a full life. Unfortunately, leucistic turtles have some disadvantages, specifically that their pale appearance can lead to sunburn, and is easier to detect by predators.