A once-in-a-lifetime sighting left scientists stunned, a rare bright orange shark was spotted off Costa Rica’s Tortuguero National Park, the first ever documented case of its kind.

Experts revealed the unusual colour comes from a double genetic twist, albinism + xanthism, giving the shark its striking orange glow and white eyes. While breathtaking to see, this anomaly could actually make the shark more vulnerable to predators.

Researchers say the discovery opens new questions about the genetic diversity of nurse sharks and note xanthism is so rare it’s been seen before only in some fish, reptiles, and birds, not sharks.