Overview

• The peer‑reviewed report in Marine Biodiversity formalizes the first recorded case of xanthism in a nurse shark and in Caribbean cartilaginous fishes.
• Fishermen with the Parismina Domus Dei tour group photographed the shark near Tortuguero National Park in August 2024 before releasing it.
• Researchers describe intense yellow‑orange pigmentation alongside pale eyes, diagnosing a combination of xanthism and albinism.
• The individual was estimated at about 200 cm in total length, indicating it had reached adulthood.
• The authors note the single case limits conclusions but suggest follow‑up genetic and ecological studies to probe potential causes and any conservation relevance, as the images circulate widely online.