A bizarre white bluntnose shark has been discovered near Sazan Island, Albania. This marks the first recorded case of albinism in this species.
The bluntnose shark, a critically endangered species (Oxynotus centrina), was caught by a commercial fishing vessel off the coast of Sazan Island – a military island that is uninhabited.
Researcher Andrej Gajić holding the shark underwater. (Photo: Andrej Gajić, Sharklab ADRIA, research funded by the Exploration Grant from the expedition club “What Lurks Beneath the Deep Sea?!”)
This shark is the first of its kind to be found with albinism, a genetic disorder that disrupts melanin production, leading to a condition known as hypopigmentation, scientists reported in a recent study.
Unlike typical albinism, where animals completely lack melanin and have red irises, the albino shark possesses normal iris pigmentation even though it appears completely white.
“Some studies suggest that a lack of pigmentation may make individuals more detectable to both predators and prey, potentially reducing their chances of survival,” researcher Gajić stated.
Pigmentation disorders are “extremely rare” in sharks and only 15 cases have been documented in deep-sea species, Gajić noted.
Researchers are also eager to explore how human threats, such as pollution and fishing, may affect the likelihood of sharks developing these disorders.
