Footage shared this week by Johnnie Mercers Pier shows a rare albino hammerhead shark swimming in the waters off Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The shark in the video is estimated to be between eight and nine feet long.
Most albino sharks are relatively young, and the individuals who captured the video were not fishing at the time, according to reporting from WNCT. The sighting has generated surprise and interest online, with commenters expressing awe at the rare sight.
Hammerhead sharks, particularly the great hammerhead species, can grow up to 6 meters long and weigh as much as 500 kilograms. The great hammerhead is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. While albino animals are uncommon across many species, their appearance in the wild often draws attention.