Bright Orange Snook Caught in Gulf of Mexico Is First Xanthochromic Fish

A common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) caught off Tabasco in the southern Gulf of Mexico has been reported as the first fish recorded in the Gulf with xanthochromism—an abnormal yellow-orange coloration. The female specimen, described in a study published in Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, measured 774 mm total length and weighed 5 kg after gutting. It was captured on May 12, 2021 by a small-scale commercial fleet near José María Morelos y Pavón, Tabasco, about 10 km northeast of the landing site. Instead of the species’ usual dark gray and silvery tones, the fish’s body was entirely orange, with a lighter orange belly. Identification relied on anatomical diagnostic traits rather than color, confirming the species despite the dramatic appearance.