First record of albinism in the Chinese fanray, Platyrhina sinensis (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes: Platyrhinidae)

Abstract A female albino fanray was found in the eighth seafood market (Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China), having been captured in the southern Taiwan Strait in April 2022. Based upon morphological measurements and DNA barcoding, it was identified as the Chinese fanray, Platyrhina sinensis (Bloch&Schneider, 1801). Morphometrics are reported, and with no retainment of pigmentation in skin, while irises pigmentation is normal, the specimen is considered as a partial albinism (leucism). The specimen is an adult female, with normal shape, normal body length, normal body mass and normal external structure. As an offshore fish, the albinism individual has more difficulties to avoid predators to reach adult size, which is rare in nature. This represents the first reported case of albinism in the family Platyrhinidae and one of a rare record of albinism within chondrichthyans, which provides new reference and basis for the physiological and ecological research of albino fish.