Incredibly rare ghostly white shark discovered off Albania

A ghostly deep-sea white shark has been discovered off the coast of Albania.

People in critical danger of extinction angular rough shark (Oxynotus centrina) was caught by a commercial trawler off the coast of Sazan Island – an uninhabited military island – at a depth of approximately 656 feet (200 meters).

The shark is the first of its species to be found to have leucism, a genetic disease that disrupts melanin production, causing reduced pigmentation, scientists report in a new study. Unlike albinism, in which animals completely lack melanin and have red irises, leucistic sharks have normal iris pigmentation even though they appear completely white.

With leucism, “an individual may still produce melanin but lack it in certain areas or throughout the body,” lead author Andrej Gajićdirector of Sharklab ADRIA in Albania, told Live Science by email. This shark was leucistic rather than albino, as it “was particularly pale with almost whitish spots on the tail, but the eyes showed normal retinal pigmentation,” Gajić explained. The study, published October 16 in the Journal of Fish Biology, is the first description of leucism in rough angular sharks and the first record of a pigmentary disorder in the family Oxynotidae.

Angular rough sharks are typically dark gray-brown or black all over, with dark spots on their heads and sides to help them blend into their surroundings. The images show that this individual was pale with whitish gray spots. His physical health did not seem to be affected by his strange coloring.

A close-up of a light-skinned angular rough shark

A close-up of the shark. (Image credit: photographs Andrej Gajić, Sharklab ADRIAstudy funded by Explorers Club Expedition Grant “What Lies in the Deep?!” “)

“Some research suggests that a lack of pigmentation may make individuals more visible to both predators and prey, potentially reducing their chances of survival,” Gajić said. This finding, along with other records of healthy sharks with pigmentary disorders, implies that these abnormalities do not have a significant negative impact on the ability of deep-sea sharks to feed, avoid predators, or survive. reproduce, he added.

Pigmentary disorders are “exceptionally rare” in sharks, and only 15 cases have been documented among deep-sea species, Gajić said. He explained that leucism is primarily a genetic disease and can be caused by abnormalities affecting the production or distribution of melanin.

“Disruptions during embryonic development can also lead to abnormal pigmentation patterns,” he said. Although more research is needed, other causes of coloring changes could also include exposure to pollutants, high temperatures, hormonal changes during development, and inbreeding within isolated populations.

A side by side of brown and white shark skin

A side by side of the skin of a regular brown angular rough shark and the leucistic shark. (Image credit: photographs Andrej Gajić, Sharklab ADRIAstudy funded by Explorers Club Expedition Grant “What Lies in the Deep?!” “)

Scientists also want to explore how human threats, such as pollution and fishing, affect sharks’ susceptibility to disease and other disorders.

Vlorë, the region where the shark was captured, could be an important hotspot for sharks and rays. Other critically endangered species are found in this area, including small gulper sharks (Centrophorus uyato) and spiny butterfly rays (Gymnura Altavela). “Some of them, like thorny rays, have never been observed in the Adriatic Sea this century,” he said.

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Incredibly rare ghostly white shark discovered off Albania

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Incredibly rare ghostly white shark discovered off Albania

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