What is the term for a rare, light-colored elephant?

The term for a rare, light-colored elephant is a white elephant.

A white elephant is not a separate species. It is an unusually pale individual, sometimes associated with albinism or other reduced pigmentation. Despite the name, these elephants are not usually snow-white: their skin may be reddish-brown and can look light pink when wet. Pale eyelashes and toenails are also characteristic features.

The phrase has deep roots in Southeast Asian history. In kingdoms such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, white elephants were regarded as auspicious and linked with royal authority, justice, and prosperity. Because they were sacred and often protected from ordinary labor, keeping one could also be extremely expensive.

That historical burden produced the modern English metaphor “white elephant,” meaning an expensive possession or project that is difficult to use or dispose of. This figurative meaning is a common source of confusion: the quiz question refers to the animal, not to an uneconomical building, scheme, or gift-exchange item.