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A ghostly snowy deep - sea shark has been discovered off the coast of Albania .
The critically endangeredangular roughshark(Oxynotus centrina ) was catch by a commercial trawler off Sazan Island — an uninhabited military island — at a astuteness of around 656 feet ( 200 meters ) .
Researcher Andrej Gajić holds the shark underwater.
The shark is the first of its species to be discovered with leucism , a genetic upset that interrupt melanin production , causing a reduction in pigmentation , scientist report in a new study . Unlike albinism , in which animals entirely lack melanin and have red irises , leucistic shark have normal iris pigmentation even if they appear all white .
With leucism , " An mortal can still create melanin but lacks it in sure regions or [ the ] entire body , " lead authorAndrej Gajić , director of theSharklab ADRIAin Albania , told Live Science via email . This shark was leucistic , rather than albino , because it " was notably pallid with almost whitish patch on the tail , but the eyes showed normal retinal pigmentation , " Gajić say . The study , published Oct. 16 in theJournal of Fish Biology , is the first verbal description of leucism in angular rocky shark and the first disk of a pigment disorder in the family Oxynotidae .
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A close-up of the shark.
Angular jumpy shark are ordinarily dark grey-haired - brown or black all over , with dark blotch on their head and sides to serve them blend into their environment . image show this individual was pale with whitish - gray patches . Its strong-arm health seemed otherwise unaffected by its strange coloration .
" Some research paint a picture that a lack of pigmentation may make individuals more visible to both predators and quarry , potentially reducing their chances of natural selection , " Gajić said . This discovery , along with other records of healthy sharks with pigment upset , inculpate that these anomalies do n’t have a significant negative shock on deep - ocean shark ' ability to feed , avoid predator or reproduce , he add .
Pigment upset are " exceptionally rare " among sharks , and only 15 casing have ever been documented among cryptic - sea species , Gajić allege . He explained that leucism is mainly a genetical disorder and may be do by abnormalities affecting the production or distribution of melanin .
A side-by-side of skin from a regular brown angular roughshark and the leucistic shark.
" disturbance during embryonic developing can also lead to abnormal pigmentation patterns , " he suppose . While more inquiry is call for , other causes for change in coloration could also include vulnerability to pollutants , elevated temperatures , hormonal shifts during development , and inbreeding within stranded populations .
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The scientist also want to research how human threat , such as pollution and sportfishing , affect sharks ' susceptibility to disease and other disorders .
Vlorë , the part where the shark was caught , could be an important hot spot for sharks and rays . Other critically queer species are found in this area , including little guzzler sharks ( Centrophorus uyato ) and spiny butterfly rays ( Gymnura altavela ) . " Some of these , such as burry butterfly stroke rays , have not been previously recorded in the Adriatic Sea in this one C , " he read .
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