Rare orange shark with white eyes discovered off Costa Rica

A rare orange shark, the only one of its kind ever found, was discovered during a fishing trip in the Tortuguero National Park area of Costa Rica, exciting researchers.

The shark immediately stood out due to its unusual colour, which scientists say is caused by a rare condition known as xanthochromism. This condition is caused by the pigments in the animals’ skin that determine their colour. In the case of xanthochromism, there is a loss of darker pigments, resulting in the predominance of yellow or orange. The researchers who published the photos in the journal Marine Biology stressed that this is the first time a shark of this hue has been recorded. This makes the finding unique on a global scale, as there have been no similar reports to date.

Furthermore, this shark also has another unusual characteristic: it has white eyes. Experts believe this may be an indication of albinism, a different condition caused by a lack of or minimal production of melanin. Albinism affects the colour of an animal’s skin, hair, or eyes, giving them a white or very pale appearance.

The simultaneous presence of both xanthochromism and signs of albinism in a shark is considered extremely rare, making the discovery particularly significant for the scientific community. Researchers emphasise that this finding can contribute to a better understanding of the genetic and biological factors that determine colours in marine species.