Orange shark: A bright orange shark was spotted on a strange morning this year off the coast of Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica — surprising local fishermen and scientists alike. It is likely the first documented orange shark, which is the result of a rare genetic condition called xanthism. The shark’s eyes also showed signs of albinism.. Did you know that some special types of fish are found in the waters of Costa Rica? Two of them that we have documented are the xanthic nurse shark, Ginglymostoma ceratum. This type of xanthism is a rare type of marine fish characterized by yellow pigmentation and considered as the one the beautiful orange shark which still exists rarely in our planet. Even cartilaginous fish from the Caribbean region have never been observed before. It is known that this specimen was caught during sport fishing near Tortuguero National Park. At that time, the water temperature was 31.2 degrees Celsius and the water depth was 37 meters. From such a discovery, it is very clear that xanthism does not hinder the survival of this species. Further research is needed to explore the possible genetic or environmental factors that influence this rarest pigmentation abnormality in sharks.
Now we will discuss about this orange shark which has been collected from the Costa Rica.
Collection of orange shark news that amazed the whole world:
This incident of discovering orange shark was originally caused by fishermen off the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. They shocked the public and the scientific community by making a rare fishing incident. The orange shark was characterized by a bright orange body and ghostly white eyes. The unusual occurrence has sparked new discussions among experts. This bright orange shark was caught in Costa Rica swimming. A regular fishing trip near Tortuguero National Park in 2024 attracted significant attention online.
Research has shown that albinism is a rare genetic condition. In such a condition, the reduction or absence of pigment in the skin of the shark leads to a predominance of yellow and orange pigments.
Occasionally, scientists have recorded it in other whole animals. However, when it comes to sharks, its presence is considered exceptionally rare. Scientists emphasize that sharks with white eyes indicate a symptom of albinism. The white eyes of the orange shark are caused by the lack of melanin, which normally gives color to the skin, eyes and hair. However, it is known that this phenomenon has never been documented before in the Caribbean Sea.
You will be surprised to hear that this shark’s castle was about six feet long. Yet the shark showed the ability to survive. Specially, such incidents are understood to occur because the pigment anomalies are not thought to cause any obstacles to the orange shark. Marine biologists have mentioned that this discovery reveals how genetics and environmental conditions affect the shark’s pigmentation and that it opens up new possibilities for study.
The tourist organization Parismina Domus Dei was the first to report that such an unusual phenomenon had been detected, and did you know that it was posted on Facebook in August 2024.
Most importantly, scientists, i.e. researchers, described this special discovery in the journal Marine Biodiversity. It was then scientifically named the nurse shark because it was the first scientifically confirmed orange shark. Even if it is scientifically confirmed to be a nurse shark today, it may seem strange at the time. Because scientists say that such a discovery is important because it reveals how diverse and amazing marine life can be. Another important point is that it also reminds us of some new worlds that still need to be recognized in this sea. Experts also believe that there may be more undiscovered color variations in this region, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the Caribbean Sea.
In theory, this genetic change of orange shark did not have any negative impact on the shark’s lifespan or development — because it has already reached adulthood.
Conclusion:
However, the orange body color and natural weather resistance of orange shark, easy prey, and damage from excessive sunlight — usually make it difficult to survive in such conditions. Still, the discovery of this shark is a big event.