A rare orange-yellow fish found in New York harbor has puzzled biologists and delighted the internet, after the US Fish and Wildlife Service said the fish was hatched with a biological condition that gave it its unusual colour.
The fish was caught in New York harbor and reported by UPI on November 10. Its bright yellow-orange colouring is so unusual that it was first mistaken for a tropical species, but officials said the colour comes from a biological condition the fish was born with, not from its environment.
A fish out of the ordinary
Fish with unusual colouration are rare but not unheard of, and they usually result from a genetic condition that affects pigment. In this case, the fish’s bright orange-yellow colour made it stand out immediately against the grey-green water of the harbor.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has not named the species publicly in the initial reports, and the fish’s exact identity is still being confirmed. What is clear is that it is a local fish with a rare condition, not an escaped pet or an invasive species.
Why the internet loves it
Rare and oddly coloured animals are a reliable viral hit, and this fish is no exception. The story has been shared widely by wildlife lovers, who have compared the fish to a goldfish, a tropical reef fish and a swimming highlighter pen.
For the Fish and Wildlife Service, the find is a reminder that even one of the busiest harbours in the world can still produce a surprise. For the fish, it is a brief moment of fame — before it swims back into the grey-green water, bright orange and unbothered.
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