In early 2024, off the coast of Costa Rica, a team of sports fishermen made an extraordinary catch that had puzzled scientists for some time.
Garvin Watson, owner of the Parismina Domus Dei hotel and one of the fishers onboard, caught a nurse shark featuring bright orange skin that shimmered in the water and glowed in the sun. Stunned, those onboard the ship photographed and recorded the shark as it squirmed and turned in the water beside the boat. “We saw an orange glow below the water and I said, ‘My God, what is this?'” Watson reported. “We could not believe what we had in front of our eyes.”
The photographs and videos quickly captivated the attention of researchers and scientists. Amongst them was Daniel Naranjo, executive director of Costa Rica’s Rescue Center for Endangered Marine Species. He and his fellow scientists meticulously studied the photographs and video of the shark.
Their observations of the identified nurse shark included theories of xanthism, a rare condition best closely described as xanthoma in humans. Xanthism is observed as a “yellow pigmentation” in the skin of marine animals.
Other researchers reporting to Live Science have also noted that the shark’s eyes were completely white and lacked black irises usually present in sharks, suggesting that the shark also had albinism on top of xanthism. This rare combination of conditions is formally known as “albino-xanthochromism,” which resulted in the vibrant orange skin on the shark.
While xanthism is formally recognized as a genetic phenomenon, the cause of this occurrence is yet to be fully understood. “More research was needed to understand the conditions influencing the shark’s anomalous pigmentation,” Doctoral Candidate Macías-Cuyare stated. Additional theories could include environmental influences and hormonal imbalances.
While the shark is a beautiful and astounding discovery for Fishermen and marine biologists, questions have been raised regarding its survivability in the wild. Naranjo describes its skin color as “a [potential] hindrance” as it is much easier for predators and prey to spot it.
In addition to this, nurse sharks are facing a significant decline in their population and are declared a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, meaning that they are on the brink of endangerment. The main culprits behind this are “habitat shifting & alteration [and] temperature extremes,” all stemming from global warming and climate change. As the temperature in the water rises and coral reefs gradually die out, nurse sharks and other species are at risk of future extinction.
The discovery of this unique shark has helped raise awareness of its situation and possible ways to help preserve its species while also sparking curiosity about its anomalous appearance.
It also helps to remind us of how humans can be responsible for the preservation and protection of animals throughout the world and help bring global change for the better. Otherwise, such beautiful creatures will be gone, and their ecosystems with them will remain beneath the barren seabed.
Now, with the discovery of this extraordinary shark, there is more attention being brought to how we can save these beautiful creatures and help preserve our planet.