Karmactive Staff
The first known instance of a leucistic angular roughshark was recently found off the coast of Albania.
Photo Source: Animalia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
This shark had white spots on its body but normal retinal pigmentation because, in contrast to albinism, its melanocytes continued to create some pigment.
Because of the disorder's impact on melanin synthesis, the shark's characteristic black cryptic coloring—which is necessary for blending in with the deep-sea environment—is disrupted.
Photo Source: Animalia (CC BY 4.0)
Just 69 of the 1483 chondrichthyan species are known to have pigment abnormalities, making leucism extremely uncommon in deep-sea organisms.
The genetic processes underlying color development in sharks and other deep-sea creatures are intriguingly called into doubt by this aberration.
The discovery of the angular roughshark has additional ecological relevance because it is located close to Vlorë, a hotspot for vulnerable species.
Photo Source: Animalia (CC0 1.0)
Leucistic sharks' poorer concealment in the bathyal zone may make them more susceptible to predators.
The work creates new opportunities to investigate the possible rise in genetic abnormalities in marine populations due to anthropogenic pressures.
The research on phenotypic plasticity and adaptation to environmental changes is expanding as a result of this discovery.