Unusual color... Rare fish discovered in 'New York'

American biologists discovered a rare fish with a striking orange-yellow hue in Oswego Harbor, New York, during a routine field survey aimed at detecting invasive aquatic species. The find could aid in studying the status of this species and understanding its population dynamics in the Great Lakes.

According to a report published two days ago by the United Press International (UPI) news agency, the fish belongs to the burbot species, which typically inhabits deep, cold waters. The agency noted that its unusual coloration is due to a rare biological condition known as xanthochromism, caused by a genetic mutation that affects natural pigmentation and gives the body an orange-yellow tint.

Biologists explained that this condition is less common in wild fish than albinism or increased dark pigmentation, making the discovery of this fish exceptional. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service highlighted that the find is also significant because the burbot population in the lake is very low, and the species usually lives in deeper, colder waters than those found in the harbor. Its detection during a fish survey there marks the first documented record of its kind.

Researchers noted that the fish appeared emaciated and in poor health, prompting them to send it to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University for health examinations, with the hope that the results would contribute to a better understanding of the burbot population in the Great Lakes region.

The burbot is a cold-water freshwater fish belonging to the cod family. It inhabits lakes and rivers, characterized by its elongated body, broad head, and a whisker-like barb below its chin, with a dark brown coloration.