A rare yellow fish was discovered in New York, drawing the attention of scientists. The species, usually brown, has an unusual coloration due to a possible rare condition.
© Instagram/USfws
14/11/2026
by
News to Minutes
Uan unusual yellow fish was caught in the waters of Lake Oswego, New York, USA. The discovery drew the attention of scientists and experts in marine biology, who classify the specimen as “one in a million”
The animal concerned is a lotta (Lota lota), a type of fish that usually has a dark brownish, black or grey colour.
In this case, the fish drew attention by presenting a more striking yellow tone, resulting from a rare condition.
“ Xanthochromism is an uncommon biological condition caused by a genetic mutation that suppresses normal pigmentation and produces an orange-yellow appearance,” explains the United States Wildlife and Fishing Service (USFWS).
The fish was discovered during a routine study of invasive aquatic species in the port of Oswego.
In addition to its unusual coloration, scientists considered that the state of health of this was precarious and, “due to the state of the fish and the unexplained factors that contribute to the continued decline of its population,” was transported to Cornell University’s School of Veterinary Medicine for a health analysis, the USFWS added.
It should be noted that although the auction is an indigenous species, its populations in the lake are extremely small. This species usually lives in deeper and colder waters than those found in the harbor.
See below more images of the animal: