▁p ig ments . ▁ ▁The ▁opposite ▁of ▁am el an ism ▁is ▁mel an ism , ▁a ▁higher ▁percentage ▁of ▁mel an in . ▁ ▁A ▁similar ▁condition , ▁al bin ism , ▁is ▁a ▁her edit ary ▁condition ▁character ised ▁in ▁animals ▁by ▁the ▁absence ▁of ▁p ig ment ▁in ▁the ▁eyes , ▁skin , ▁hair , ▁scales , ▁fe athers ▁or ▁cut icle . ▁This ▁results ▁in ▁an ▁all ▁white ▁animal , ▁usually ▁with ▁p ink ▁or ▁red ▁eyes . ▁ ▁Mel an ins ▁and ▁mel an in ▁production ▁Mel an in ▁is ▁a ▁comp ound ▁found ▁in ▁plants , ▁animals , ▁and ▁prot ists , ▁and ▁is ▁derived ▁from ▁the ▁am ino ▁acid ▁ty ros ine . ▁Mel an in ▁is ▁a ▁phot op rote ct ant , ▁absor bing ▁the ▁DNA - dam aging ▁ult rav io let ▁radiation ▁of ▁the ▁sun . ▁Ver te br ates ▁have ▁mel an in ▁in ▁their ▁skin ▁and ▁hair , ▁fe athers , ▁or ▁scales . ▁They ▁also ▁have ▁two ▁layers ▁of ▁p ig ment ed ▁t issue ▁in ▁the ▁eye : ▁the ▁st rom a , ▁at ▁the ▁front ▁of ▁the ▁ir is , ▁and ▁the ▁ir is ▁p ig ment ▁ep ith el ium , ▁a ▁thin ▁but ▁critical ▁layer ▁of ▁p ig ment ed ▁cells ▁at ▁the ▁back ▁of ▁the ▁ir is . ▁Mel an in ▁is ▁also ▁present ▁in ▁the ▁inner ▁ear , ▁and ▁is ▁important ▁for ▁the ▁early ▁development ▁of ▁the ▁aud itory ▁system . ▁Mel