The discovery of a bright orange nurse shark in the waters of the Caribbean of Costa Rica has surprised fishermen and specialists. It is a specimen whose orange hue, unusual for the species, has been scientifically documented for the first time in the region. This phenomenon is also studied in the catshark.
According to the story of the protagonists and the subsequent analysis, the animal was captured and released during a sport fishing trip near the Tortuguero National Park, after recording their appearance and taking visual evidence that has confirmed the exceptional nature of the case.
Characteristics and distinctive signs
The first thing that stands out is its bright orange skin, a radical contrast to the usual brown of the Ginglymostoma cirratum, a tonality that is normally used camouflage themselves against the background marine.
In addition, the individual presented completely white eyes, with no apparent iris, a feature that specialists interpret as a possible case of xanthism combined with albinism (albino-xanthochromism).
The images released by the fishermen clearly show a uniform and a typical nurse shark morphology, with a size of around two meters, indicating that it is a adult.
This maturity suggests that, despite the greater visibility that bright color or depigmented eyes, the specimen has avoided the pressure of predators and has managed to thrive in its environment.
Where, when and who found it
The meeting took place near Barra de Parismina, near Tortuguero National Park, at a depth of approximately 37 meters, during a sport fishing excursion.
Fishermen Garvin Watson y Pablo Solano participated in the capture and rapid documentation of the animal, which was returned to the sea after verifying his condition.
The local company Parismina Domus Dei shared the graphic record, and the case was later analyzed by a team from the Federal University of Rio Grande (Brazil), which validated the uniqueness of the discovery.
The results of the study were published in the journal Marine Biodiversity, which details that it is the first report of xanthism in nurse shark in the Caribbean Sea, with far-reaching scientific implications.
What is xanthism and why is it relevant?
El xanthism (or xanthochromism) is a pigmentation disorder that produces excess of yellow or orange tones due to a deficiency of red pigment. It is a rare phenomenon, of which there are sporadic records in birds, reptiles and fish freshwater, and which is exceptional in sharks.
There is an opposite condition, the axanthism, characterized by the absence of yellow pigment. Other known pigment variants include melanism (predominantly black) and the leucism (partial loss of color), which help to contextualize this type of anomaly.
The main cause is usually genetics, although its expression could be influenced by factors such as inbreeding, environmental stress, high temperatures, hormonal imbalances or even the diet, according to the researchers.
The scientific team stresses that this is the first documented case of xanthism in a cartilaginous fish from the Caribbean, suggesting poorly described pigmentation pathways in the region and raises questions about genetic diversity of local populations.
In parallel, it is worth remembering that the nurse shark is a benthic inhabitant which usually rests at the bottom and has a mouth pump which allows it to breathe without swimming continuously; therefore, its typical brown coloration is a camouflage ally which in this case is not fulfilled.
Although some work suggests that these extraordinary colorations may reduce the supervivencia, this specimen demonstrates that there is room for adaptation, which justifies carrying out more sampling and monitoring in the area with the collaboration of the fishing community and research centers.
the confluence of an unprecedented pigmentation, the location in a highly biodiverse enclave like Tortuguero and the academic confirmation of the case build a first-rate scientific story: a nurse shark totally orange which, despite its visibility, has reached adulthood, provides clues about the genetics of the species and reinforces the need to continue closely observing what is happening in the Costa Rican Caribbean.
