Researchers spotted an albino killer whale off the shores of Russia on Sunday, the first time anyone has documented an adult white killer whale. Whale watchers have seen white calves in the past, but none have been known to grow to adulthood, researchers said.

Researchers hope to collect a genetic sample from the whale, named Iceberg, to determine the origin of its albinism, research leader Erich Hoyt, a senior research fellow with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation society, said in a blog post.

"We have no genetic data [on the whale] but we are hoping to meet them again in summer 2012 and learn more about the phenomenon of white whales, why they occur, what it means and whether Iceberg is a true albino - perhaps we can catch a glimpse of a pink eye - or 'just' one of the most beautiful orcas anyone has ever seen," Hoyt wrote.

Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by a lack of pigment in the skin. Albino people and animals appear white or very pale and often have pink eyes. Albino humans frequently have vision problems and are at a greater risk of sunburn and skin cancer.  Albino animals are usually unable to hide from predators or prey, so their survival rate in the wild is typically low.

Click through the slideshow for some examples of albino animals.

Iceberg, the rare white killer whale, was spotted off the coast of Russia.

A rare white albino alligator is seen during photocall at the Serengeti Safari park in the northern German village of Hodenhagen

An albino wallaby, born into captivity, stands with another wallaby at a wildlife park in Peyia, western Cyprus

A white albino Japanese Rat Snake is seen at a snake viewing facility in Iwakuni, southwestern Japan

A white donkey is seen in the national park of Asinara island

Glasha, left, a two-hump female camel, and its four-day-old cub Marta stand at a private zoo of the Crimean resort of Yalta. Marta is special because it is a rare albino species.

A rare albino Southern Right Whale calf at West Australia's Flinder's Bay

An albino baby turtle swims with green sea babies turtle in a pond at Khram island

A rare albino peacock spreads its' tail feathers in La Boissiere du Dore Zoo, near Nantes, western France

An albino tiger in captivity is pictured at the house where members of a drug trafficking gang were arrested in Alvaro Obregon district, Mexico City

Dolphins swimming off the South Australian coast.

Albino gorilla 'Copito de Nieve' (Snow Flake) the only one known in the world, sits inside his cage in Barcelona zoo