First-of-its-Kind Orange Shark Discovered in Costa Rica

A bright orange nurse shark, the only one of its kind ever documented, was recently found during a sport fishing trip near Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica. The two-meter-long adult shark, which is typically brown, had an intense orange coloration and striking white eyes. The discovery was later documented in a study published in the journal Marine Biology.

Researchers believe the shark’s unusual appearance is due to a combination of two extremely rare genetic conditions: xanthism and albinism, a phenomenon they refer to as “albino-xanthochromism.”

• Xanthism is a condition caused by a lack of darker pigments in the skin, which allows yellow or orange coloration to become more prominent. This is the first documented case of xanthism in a cartilaginous fish (a group that includes sharks, rays, and skates) in the Caribbean.
• Albinism is a separate condition that causes little to no production of the pigment melanin. This is what is thought to be responsible for the shark’s startling white eyes.

The discovery is considered scientifically significant as it challenges the assumption that such conditions would hinder a wild animal’s survival. Despite its lack of natural camouflage, the orange shark appears to have reached adulthood, suggesting its unique coloring did not affect its ability to survive. Further research is needed to explore potential genetic and environmental factors that may have influenced this rare pigmentation anomaly.

Source: African Publicity