Rare albino hammerhead shark spotted swimming near Wrightsville Beach pier
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — A rare sight was caught on camera in Wrightsville Beach.
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier posted video to Instagram of an albino hammerhead shark.
View this post on Instagram
It was spotted near the pier and is estimated to be between 8 and 9 feet long.
Visitors were not fishing for the shark. It was just swimming nearby.
According to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, “Albinism is caused by genetic mutations that disrupt the production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. These mutations can be inherited from parents, or in some cases, can arise as a new mutation.”
The aquarium is currently undergoing renovations, but does house an albino alligator named Luna.
