New Type of Shark Just Dropped
This one’s orange!
Published 3 months ago in Wow
Scientists have discovered a new, one-of-a-kind nurse shark off the coast of Costa Rica. What makes it one-of-a-kind? Well, it’s orange. Is that not enough?
According to scientists who studied the animal, it was likely born with two different conditions: albinism, of which you’re probably already aware, and xanthism, a genetic condition that reduces dark pigmentation and causes lighter colors — such as orange and yellow — to become more pronounced.
Rare bright orange shark discovered in Costa Rica pic.twitter.com/DhRocec3oN
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Of course, scientists aren’t 100 percent certain why our orange boy is the way he is. There’s also some speculation that inbreeding, stress and hormonal imbalances could have led to his bright color. God, imagine being so stressed that you turn pumpkin-colored!
There are no concerns about these issues affecting the shark’s lifespan, however, as the shark has already reached adulthood. That said, if you want to see it for yourself, you’re kinda outta luck — the scientists swiftly released the shark after photographing it.
So, if you’re trying to catch a glimpse of the orange shark, you’re just going to have to swim in the shark-infested waters until you find it. Good luck!