A fishing trip near Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica led to the astonishing discovery of a bright orange shark with unusual white eyes, a sight never before recorded in marine science.
The rare creature was photographed as it swam close to a boat while hooked on a line, leaving researchers stunned by its extraordinary appearance.
Publishing the pictures in the Marine Biology journal, scientists confirmed that this is the first ever shark of its colour to be found.
Its unusual orange tone is the result of xanthism, a condition that is extremely rare among sharks and other fishes.
“Xanthism is caused by pigments in the skin, which is something that all animals have that gives their skin a certain colour,” researchers explained.
The condition occurs when an animal loses darker pigments, causing yellow or orange shades to become more prominent.
What makes this shark even more remarkable is its striking white eyes. Experts believe this could be linked to albinism, another rare condition where the body produces little or no melanin.
In animals, albinism can lead to pale skin, hair, and eyes, and in this case, may have contributed to the shark’s unique appearance.
The once-in-a-lifetime find highlights the mysteries that still lurk beneath the ocean’s surface, reminding researchers how much more there is to learn about marine life and its rare genetic variations.