Photogenic 'One-in-a-Million' Fish With Xanthochromism Caught in New York

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists conducting a routine Aquatic Invasive Species Survey in Oswego Harbor, New York, made a remarkable catch. While burbot (Lota lota) are typically brown with dark spots, the team reeled in a specimen featuring a striking bright yellow-orange appearance.

Experts explain that this unusual phenotype is caused by xanthochromism, a rare genetic mutation that suppresses normal dark pigmentation. Scientists note that xanthochromism is considerably less common in wild fish populations compared to albinism or melanism. For context, an orange shark made headlines in 2024 due to an even rarer combination of albinism and xanthochromism. Because burbot are a native species, they represent a fascinating natural anomaly rather than an invasive threat.