First record of albinism in the deep-water shark Dalatias licha

Abstract

The first case of albinism in the kitefin shark, Dalatias licha, is reported here through the study of one specimen caught by professional bottom trawl in the Gulf of Genoa, Ligurian Sea. The albino surface was quantified and morphometric and meristic characteristics were compared with those of normal specimens of the same sex and equivalent length, caught within the same area. The shark body presented a partial reduction in pigmentation and no morphometric differences between the albino specimen and the normal individuals were observed.