An albino cyclops shark was reportedly found in the womb of a large bull shark, baffling fishermen and the public.
The pup has garnered quite the amount of attention since pictures went viral, with many questioning its authenticity and the possibility that it may just be the work of Photoshop.
This week, researchers say it could be the real thing.
The pup was reportedly sliced from the belly of a pregnant bull shark in california this summer and features a white appearance and large central eye.
According to Pisces Fleet, the mother bull shark weighed in at 286 lbs and was almost ten feet long. Reportedly, the shark was found carrying ten pups inside of her, all of which were normal except for the one-eyed albino.
The fisherman who discovered the pup is reportedly holding onto it, though he has allowed scientists to examine it. According to Fox, shark researchers have examined the creature and found that its single eye is made of functional optical tissue but say it most likely would not have survived outside the womb—the pup lived only 30 minutes after birth and had severe brain abnormalities.
The pup is reportedly the result of Cyclopia. According to medterms.com, it’s a birth defect where the eye is centrally placed in the area normally occupied by the root of the nose and is thought to result from toxins and environmental pollution.
