Extremely rare light orange shark with white eyes that were discovered in the Caribbean
A shark with a striking orange appearance caused by a rare skin condition was caught off the coast of Costa Rica.
The nurse shark, which measure more than six feet long, stood out from the usual brown color of the species. The shark was captured at a sports fishing near Tortuguero National Park at a depth of 37 meters.
Researchers believe that the unusual appearance by Xanthism – also known as Xanthochroism – was caused by a pigmentation state that creates excessive yellow or golden colors in the skin of the animals due to lack of red pigmentation.
The rare condition has never been seen in cartilaginous fish, a group that, according to Research at the Federal University of Rio Grande, comprises in the Caribbean Haie, rays and ice skates.
The rare pigmentation state has never been seen in cartilaginous fish, a group that belongs to sharks, rays and ice skates in the Caribbean (Facebook).
The shark also showed characteristics of albinism, including a few striking white eyes.
Nurse sharks usually have brown skin that helps you to integrate yourself into the sea floor. If you have bright orange skin or white eyes in the case of albinism, it is more visible and therefore more susceptible to predators in the wild.
In contrast to most sharks that have to swim continuously to breathe, the nurse has a special buccal pump that allows you to breathe without swimming.
While some researchers argue that animals with Xanthism are exposed to lower survival rates, the scientists believe that this case shows that this may not be the case.
The disease is usually caused by a genetic mutation, but other factors, including nutrition, can also influence pigmentation (Facebook)
His discovery has asked questions about genetic make-up in local nurse shark populations.
The condition is usually caused by a genetic mutation, but other factors, including nutrition, can also influence pigmentation.
“Further studies are necessary to examine potential genetic or ecological factors that influence this rare pigmentation anomaly in sharks,” said the researchers.
Xanthism is considered to be extremely rare in the animal kingdom, with confirmed cases only limited to a handful of fish, reptiles and birds.
It has made lively yellow morphs in freshwater fish, while birds such as parrots and Canaries were sighted with golden feathers because of the condition. There were also occasionally reports of unusually yellow snakes and lizards.
The opposite state, which is known as axanthism, also exists and is characterized by a lack of yellow pigment.