Color aberrations in Chondrichthyan fishes: first records in the genus Bathyraja (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae)

Abstract

Two softnose skate specimens with abnormal coloration, one complete albino and one partial albino (leucistic), were captured during fishery-independent trawl surveys. The complete albino specimen was collected in 2007 in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and the leucistic specimen was collected in 2011 off northern California. Based upon meristic and morphometric measurements, the albino skate specimen was identified as the Aleutian Skate, Bathyraja aleutica, and the leucistic skate specimen was identified as the Roughtail Skate, Bathyraja trachura. These are the first documented cases of any type of albinism in the genus Bathyraja. A comprehensive review encompassing reported cases of any type of albinism in Chondrichthyans from peer-reviewed literature to-date is provided.