Latest news with #xanthism
The Independent
a day ago
- Science
- The Independent
Fishermen and experts stunned after rare orange shark caught
A nurse shark with a striking orange appearance, caused by the rare skin condition xanthism, was caught off the coast of Costa Rica. Xanthism, which results in excessive yellow or golden colours due to a lack of red pigmentation, has never before been observed in cartilaginous fish in the Caribbean. The six-foot-long shark, captured near Tortuguero National Park, also exhibited traits of albinism, including distinctive white eyes. While such conditions typically make sharks more vulnerable to predators, this discovery challenges assumptions about the survival rates of affected animals. The finding prompts experts to call for further research into potential genetic or environmental factors influencing this rare pigmentation anomaly in local nurse shark populations.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Extremely rare bright orange shark with white eyes discovered in the Caribbean
A shark with a striking orange appearance caused by a rare skin condition has been caught off the coast of Costa Rica. The nurse shark, which measured more than six feet long, stood out from the species' usual brown colouring. The shark was captured on a sport fishing trip near Tortuguero National Park, at a depth of 37 metres. Researchers believe the unusual appearance was caused by xanthism - also known as xanthochroism - a pigmentation condition that creates excessive yellow or golden colours in the animals ' skin due to a lack of red pigmentation. The rare condition has never been seen in cartilaginous fish, a group that includes sharks, rays, and skates, in the Caribbean before, according to Federal University of Rio Grande research. The shark also showed traits of albinism, including a pair of striking white eyes. Nurse sharks usually have brown skin to help them blend into the seabed. Having bright orange skin, or white eyes in the case of albinism, makes them more visible and therefore more vulnerable to predators in the wild. Unlike most sharks, who must continuously swim to breathe, the nurse species has a special buccal pump that allows them to breathe without swimming. While some researchers argue that animals with xanthism face lower survival rates, the scientists believe this case shows that may not be the case. Its discovery has prompted questions about the genetic make-up in local nurse shark populations. The condition is usually caused by a genetic mutation, but other factors, including diet, can also influence pigmentation. 'Further research is needed to explore potential genetic or environmental factors influencing this rare pigmentation anomaly in sharks,' the researchers said. Xanthism is considered extremely rare across the animal kingdom, with confirmed cases limited to only a handful of fish, reptiles, and birds. It has produced vivid yellow morphs in freshwater fish, while birds like parrots and canaries have been spotted with golden feathers because of the condition. There have also been occasional reports of unusually yellow snakes and lizards. The opposite condition, known as axanthism, also exists and is marked by a lack of yellow pigment.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Orange shark with white eyes seen for 'first time ever' by anglers in Costa Rica
A giant shark was reeled in during a sport fishing trip in Costa Rica that is being hailed as a first-of-its-kind catch. The six-and-a-half-foot-long shark exhibited xanthism, a rare pigmentation condition that causes an excess of yellow or golden tones in the skin, scales or fur of animals. While xanthism has been observed in a few fish species, it has never before been documented in cartilaginous fish, a group that includes sharks, rays, and skates, in the Caribbean. Typically, nurse sharks have light to dark brown skin, which helps them blend into reefs and rocky seafloor habitats where they spend most of their time hunting. Based on the shark's size, researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande concluded that this unusual pigmentation did not appear to affect its survival. The scientists said in a study: 'The discovery of a yellow nurse shark raises important questions about the genetics and adaptability of nurse sharks. 'Is this a one-time occurrence, or could it signal a new genetic trend in the local population?' Because this coloring makes animals more visible, scientists believe xanthism often lowers survival rates in the wild. Albinism, though slightly better known, is also uncommon and can pose serious challenges to animals that develop it. The absence of melanin results in pale skin, scales, or fur, along with white or red eyes. In the wild, this lack of natural camouflage can make albino animals easier targets for predators and less effective hunters. The condition may also increase sensitivity to sunlight and, in some cases, reduce the likelihood of finding a mate. For this reason, the fact that a nurse shark showing both xanthism and albinism survived into adulthood makes the discovery especially significant. The survival of this vividly colored shark into adulthood also offers a rare glimpse into the adaptability of the species and raises new questions for marine biologists about genetic diversity in Caribbean nurse shark populations. Nurse sharks are benthic predators, meaning they spend most of their time on or near the seafloor, often around reefs and rocky areas. Their typical brownish coloring helps them blend in with the surroundings, making them harder to spot. This shark's bright yellow-orange color, however, would have made it stand out, which makes its survival into adulthood particularly remarkable. It is unclear whether this unusual coloring offers any advantages or if the shark simply managed to thrive despite being more visible.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
Bright orange shark spotted for the ‘first time ever' after being reeled in by fisherman in catch of a lifetime
A GIANT first-of-its-kind shark has been reeled in off the coast of Costa Rica. The exceedingly rare shark, measuring in at over six feet long, exhibited a rare pigmentation condition causing it to appear orange. 4 4 The shark was thought to have xanthism, a rare pigmentation condition, affecting the fur, scales or skin of animals. It creates yellow or golden colours in the animal but has never been observed in cartilaginous fish, a group that includes sharks, rays, and skates, in the Caribbean before. The rare catch appeared to also show traits of albinism, with the shark boasting a pair of striking white eyes. The nurse shark usually has brown skin which helps them blend into the seabed. Based on the size of the shark researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande concluded the unusual colour did not affect the shark's survival. Animals with albinism or xanthism are much more visible which scientists believe lowers their survival rate in the wild. The bright colouring caused by the pigmentation conditions makes affected animals easy targets for predators. Both conditions can also increase sensitivity to sunlight and make it difficult for animals to find mates. This makes the discovery of a shark that survived to adulthood with both conditions all the more significant. It is unclear whether the unusual colouring offered any advantages to the shark or if it simply managed to thrive despite being more visible. Rare giant 'spaceship-like' sea creature that grows up to 2.5 metres spotted off Scots coast The striking fish was reeled in by some pals on a sport fishing trip in the Caribbean. Its discovery prompted questions for marine biologists about genetic diversity in Caribbean nurse shark populations. Scientists are now asking whether this is a one-time occurrence, or if it could signal a new genetic trend in the local population. Xanthism is considered extremely rare across the animal kingdom. 4 4 It has been recorded in only a few species of fish, reptiles, and birds, but there have only been a handful of confirmed cases. In freshwater fish such as guppies, cichlids, and even goldfish, the condition sometimes produces striking yellow morphs. Certain birds, like parrots and canaries, have also displayed golden plumage linked to xanthism. Occasional reports in reptiles describe unusually yellow snakes or lizards.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Rare orange shark with ghostly white eyes captured in first-of-its-kind sighting
A giant shark was reeled in during a sport fishing trip in Costa Rica that is being hailed as a first-of-its-kind catch. The six-and-a-half-foot-long shark exhibited xanthism, a rare pigmentation condition that causes an excess of yellow or golden tones in the skin, scales or fur of animals. While xanthism has been observed in a few fish species, it has never before been documented in cartilaginous fish, a group that includes sharks, rays, and skates, in the Caribbean. In addition to xanthism, the shark also showed albinism, which explained its striking white eyes. Typically, nurse sharks have light to dark brown skin, which helps them blend into reefs and rocky seafloor habitats where they spend most of their time hunting. 'The discovery of a yellow nurse shark raises important questions about the genetics and adaptability of nurse sharks,' the study said. 'Is this a one-time occurrence, or could it signal a new genetic trend in the local population?' Based on the shark's size, researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande concluded that this unusual pigmentation did not appear to affect its survival. Xanthism is considered extremely rare across the animal kingdom. It has been recorded in a few species of fish, reptiles, and birds, but confirmed cases remain limited. In freshwater fish such as guppies, cichlids, and even goldfish, the condition sometimes produces striking yellow morphs. Certain birds, like parrots and canaries, have also displayed golden plumage linked to xanthism, while occasional reports in reptiles describe unusually yellow snakes or lizards. Because this coloring makes animals more visible, scientists believe xanthism often lowers survival rates in the wild. Albinism, though slightly better known, is also uncommon and can pose serious challenges to animals that develop it. The absence of melanin results in pale skin, scales, or fur, along with white or red eyes. In the wild, this lack of natural camouflage can make albino animals easier targets for predators and less effective hunters. The condition may also increase sensitivity to sunlight and, in some cases, reduce the likelihood of finding a mate. For this reason, the fact that a nurse shark showing both xanthism and albinism survived into adulthood makes the discovery especially significant. The survival of this vividly colored shark into adulthood also offers a rare glimpse into the adaptability of the species and raises new questions for marine biologists about genetic diversity in Caribbean nurse shark populations. Nurse sharks are benthic predators, meaning they spend most of their time on or near the seafloor, often around reefs and rocky areas. Their typical brownish coloring helps them blend in with the surroundings, making them harder to spot. This shark's bright yellow-orange color, however, would have made it stand out, which makes its survival into adulthood particularly remarkable. It is unclear whether this unusual coloring offers any advantages or if the shark simply managed to thrive despite being more visible.
