Albino Ratfish Found at Whidbey Island, Washington
WEDNESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2007
The first albino ratfish was caught at 200-feet deep of Puget Sound at Whidbey Island in Washington during a research project of the University of Washington.
The research project examined food web in Hood Canal and Puget Sound. The foot-long female ratfish was estimated to be two to three years of age, which categorizes her as teenager in the ratfish realm.
According to the researchers, there are 33 species of ratfish around the world. But the one found in Puget Sound is the only white-spotted ratfish, which is now part of the UW Fish Collection with the other 82 ratfish specimens.
Ratfish is like a shark which has a skeleton made of cartilage. It can grow as long as three feet.
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