First record of albinism in the blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus from Malabar coast

Manojkumar, P P (2011) First record of albinism in the blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus from Malabar coast. Marine Fisheries Information Service (208). p. 36.

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Abstract

Albinism is lack of pigmentation caused by an enzyme deficiency involving the metabolism of melanin during prenatal development. Among teleost fishes, albino individuals have been reported in numerous species, but in elasmobranchs it is rare. A white coloured balcktip reef shark identified as Carcharhinus melanopterus was caught in October, 2010 by a gillnet unit operating off Calicut at a depth of 40 m. The specimen measured 82 cm in total length and weighed 3.2 kg. Morphometric and meristic characteristics were collected and compared with those of normal specimens of the same sex and equivalent length.

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