An extremely rare white shark was found off Albania. Photo

An extremely rare white shark has been discovered off Albania. According to researchers, this deep-sea ghost found off the island of Sazan is the first example of leukism ever recorded in this species.

The angular roughshark (Oxynotus centrina) is an endangered species. It was caught by a commercial trawler at a depth of about 200 meters, LiveScience reports.

Leukemia is a genetic disorder that disrupts the production of melanin, causing a complete or partial absence of all skin pigments, scientists say.

Unlike albinism, in which animals completely lack melanin and have red irises, leukemic sharks have normal iris pigmentation, even if their bodies are completely white.

"This shark was a leukist, not an albino, because it "was noticeably pale with almost whitish spots on its tail, but the eyes showed normal retinal pigmentation," said lead author of the study, director of Sharklab ADRIA in Albania Andrej Gajić. The researchers noted that this ghost is the first description of leukism in basking sharks and the first record of pigment disorders in the Oxynotidae family.

According to the scientists, angular sharks are usually dark gray-brown or black throughout their bodies, with dark spots on their heads and sides that help them blend in with their surroundings. Instead, the captured shark is pale with whitish-gray spots. However, experts note that its strange color did not affect its physical health.

"Some research suggests that a lack of pigmentation can make individuals more conspicuous, reducing their chances of survival," said Gajić.

However, this discovery, together with other records of healthy sharks with pigmentation disorders, suggests that these abnormalities do not have a significant negative impact on the ability of deep-sea sharks to feed, avoid predators, or reproduce, the scientist added.

According to the scientists, in addition to a genetic disorder, abnormal pigmentation can be caused by disorders during embryonic development.

Some experts believe that leukemia can occur due to exposure to pollutants, elevated temperatures, hormonal shifts during development, and inbreeding in isolated populations.

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