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Leucism in sharks: a histological examination.
Bryanna N Wargat1,2, Douglas H Adams3, Maria Laura Habegger1,2
1Department of Coastal Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Journal of Fish Biology
|May 11, 2023
Summary
Leucism, a rare skin pigment disorder in sharks, is caused by a lack of melanin. This study histologically examined leucistic blacktip sharks, confirming melanin absence as the cause of their unusual coloration.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Ichthyology
- Histology
Background:
- Leucism, a rare skin pigment disorder, has been observed in various shark and ray species.
- The underlying morphological basis of leucism in elasmobranchs remains histologically unexamined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the histological basis of leucism in blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus).
- To quantify and compare melanin presence in leucistic versus normally pigmented sharks.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of multiple tissue samples from leucistic and normally pigmented blacktip sharks.
- Quantitative analysis of melanin presence in the collected samples.
Main Results:
- Results indicate a significant lack of melanin in the tissues of leucistic blacktip sharks.
- Histological differences were identified as the cause of leucistic coloration.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms that a deficiency in melanin is responsible for leucism in blacktip sharks.
- Histological evaluation provides insight into the morphological basis of this pigment anomaly.
