Dear 222 News viewers, sponsored by smileband,
A Remarkable Discovery Off the Coast of Costa Rica
In the waters off the Caribbean coast of Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica, marine scientists and anglers have recorded a truly extraordinary sight — a bright orange shark with ghost-white eyes. Belonging to the species Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum), this individual stunned observers by exhibiting a rare pigmentation anomaly.
The Encounter
During a sport-fishing trip near Tortuguero, at a depth of about 37 metres, anglers hooked a nurse shark measuring approximately 2 metres (around 6.5 feet) in length. Rather than the typical grey-brown or yellow-brown colouring of the species, this shark’s skin glowed a vivid orange-gold, and its eyes appeared white – lacking the usual dark irises. The shark was photographed and then released back into the sea.
What’s Behind the Colour
The unusual appearance is thought to be caused by xanthism (also spelled xanthochroism) — a pigment disorder in which yellow and gold hues become unusually prominent because darker pigments are lacking or suppressed.
In this case, researchers also observed features suggestive of albinism, such as the white eyes, which together point to what the study refers to as “albino-xanthochromism”. That is, a double anomaly: both excess yellow-gold pigment (xanthism) and diminished melanin (albinism).
Why It Matters
• This is the first scientifically documented case of full-body xanthism in a cartilaginous fish (sharks, rays, skates) in the Caribbean Sea — and the first such case for the nurse shark species globally.
• It challenges assumptions about pigment anomalies in marine animals: despite its vivid colouring (which would normally increase visibility to predators or reduce camouflage), this individual appears to have matured into adulthood.
• It raises questions about genetic and environmental factors in shark populations: How did this individual come about? Is this a one-off mutation, or is there something in the local environment or population genetics that enables or tolerates such anomalies.
Biological & Ecological Considerations
• The nurse shark is typically a bottom-dwelling species, often found in tropical shallow waters, crevices and reefs, feeding on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish.
• Having typical brown/grey colouring helps them blend into their habitat. Thus a vivid orange-gold colour is highly unusual and may increase vulnerability. Yet this one survived long enough to reach large size, suggesting resilience.
• The discovery does not indicate a new species — the shark was identified as a typical nurse shark, with the difference being in its pigment.
• Scientists note that while xanthism is usually presumed to reduce survival (due to visibility, UV exposure etc.), individual outcomes can vary.
Implications & Future Directions
• The find is a call to further investigate the genetic diversity of shark populations in the Caribbean region — especially for anomalies and their frequency.
• It underscores the value of sport-fishing tourism and photographic documentation in contributing to marine biodiversity records.
• It also highlights the need for shark conservation: even well-known species can surprise us, and protecting their habitats ensures such unique individuals have a chance to live.
• With climate change, habitat stress, changing water temperatures and other pressures, scientists will want to monitor whether pigment anomalies increase or whether this remains a rare curiosity.
A Visual Wonder
To many observers, the image of a glowing orange shark with white eyes might seem more like a creature of fantasy than of familiar marine life. For those in the marine-biology community, however, it is a vivid reminder of how much is still to learn beneath the waves.
Attached is a news article regarding a orange shark ground of the coast of Costa Rica
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
In-- Google tag (gtag.js) --> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XDGJVZXVQ4"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-XDGJVZXVQ4'); </script>
<script src="https://cdn-eu.pagesense.io/js/smilebandltd/45e5a7e3cddc4e92ba91fba8dc
No comments:
Post a Comment