Affiliation:
1. Department of Coastal Biology University of North Florida Jacksonville Florida USA
2. Department of Biology Florida Southern College Lakeland Florida USA
3. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Melbourne Florida USA
Abstract
AbstractIsolated cases of skin pigment disorders, including leucism, in sharks and rays have been reported for multiple species. Nonetheless, the morphological basis behind these chromatic anomalies has not been examined histologically. In this study, the authors quantified and compared the presence of melanin in multiple tissue samples of leucistic and fully pigmented blacktip sharks Carcharhinus limbatus. The authors’ results support lack of melanin to be responsible for leucistic colouration. The histological differences responsible were evaluated.
Subject
Aquatic Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics