An amelanistic snake lacks black pigments called melanins. This lack of black pigment produces snakes that are albino. You should not mistake albino snakes, which only lack melanin for a leucistic snake. There are also hypomelanistic snakes which are similar.

Amelanism can also affect amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles. It should be noted that unlike mammals snakes and other organisms produce a variety of pigments in addition to melanin. Notice the albino corn snake in the picture has orange and reddish pigmentation, but no black. That snake is an example of an amelanistic animal.

Because melanin plays an important role in the absorption of ultraviolet radiation amelanistic snakes can be susceptible to being over exposed to sunlight.