First record of albinism in the brown sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Albinism is a hereditary lack of pigmentation caused by deficiencies in enzymes related to the metabolism of melanin. This mutation is present in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, including the Holothuroidea class; nevertheless, information about the occurrence of albinism in these kinds of echinoderms is scarce and refers to species from temperate and cold regions of the ocean. In 2013, we observed two albino individuals of Isostichopus fuscus, one at Loreto (25°45′54″N, 111°14′36″W) and the second one at Los Angeles Bay (29°02′54″N, 113°29′49″W). This is the first documented record of albinism for this species.