Rare white tiger snake eel on display at west Japan aquarium

SHIRAHAMA, Wakayama -- An almost completely white tiger snake eel that escaped predators to grow to a length of roughly 80 centimeters is on display at Kyoto University's Shirahama Aquarium in this western Japan town.

Normally yellow in color with black spots on their bodies, tiger snake eels are found in Japan along the Pacific coast south of the Izu Peninsula and elsewhere.

The white one at the aquarium was caught off the coast of the Wakayama Prefecture town of Kushimoto in early March. Its body is almost pure white, although some black spots are visible. According to the aquarium, the genetic information that makes the snake eel's body white appeared stronger for some reason, and the appearance of pigments may have been suppressed. A white body is easily spotted by predators, so it is extremely rare for such a snake eel to grow to this size.

The facility also exhibits a normal tiger snake eel, which can be compared to the white specimen. A representative at the aquarium said, "We hope that visitors will become interested in the wonders of nature."

The university's aquarium is also currently distributing 1,260 original button badges commemorating the 126th anniversary of Kyoto University to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. It is open year-round. For inquiries, contact the facility by phone at 0739-42-3515 (in Japanese). Its website is at https://www.seto.kyoto-u.ac.jp/shirahama_aqua/english/.

(Japanese original by Yukihiro Takeuchi, Tanabe Local Bureau)