Rare bright orange shark discovered in Costa Rica

An extraordinary bright orange shark has been discovered during a fishing trip near Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica, making it the first of its kind ever recorded.

According to researchers, the shark’s striking color is the result of a rare condition known as xanthism. This condition occurs when darker pigments are reduced or absent, allowing yellow or orange pigments to dominate the skin tone.

The discovery was documented in the journal Marine Biology, where scientists confirmed that no other shark of this coloration has previously been observed.

Adding to its uniqueness, the shark was also found to have white eyes. Experts suggest this could indicate the presence of albinism, another genetic condition that reduces or eliminates melanin production, often resulting in pale skin, hair, and eye coloration.

The combination of xanthism and possible albinism makes this shark an extraordinary specimen, further highlighting the diversity and complexity of marine life.