Scientists in Oswego, New York, were in for a surprise last month, after catching a bright yellow burbot.
Most burbot have mottled skin that ranges in colour from black to grey to olive.
However, this particular fish had a saturated yellow-orange appearance, thanks to a ‘one-in-a-million’ genetic mutation, known as xanthochromism.
‘Xanthochromism is a rare biological condition caused by a genetic mutation that suppresses normal pigmentation and produces a yellow-orange appearance,’ explained the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
‘Xanthochromism is considerably less common in wild fish than albinism or melanism, making this an especially unusual capture.’
Scientists in Oswego, New
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