We’ve witnessed various animals that come in white and black hues, but have you ever seen a pink one? Introducing the pink manta ray!
Photographer Kristian Laine was fortunate enough to capture images of this extraordinary creature. In fact, the manta ray’s complexion was so unusual that Laine initially believed his camera had malfunctioned.
“I had absolutely no idea that pink mantas existed in the world, so I was bewildered and assumed that my strobe lights were either malfunctioning or behaving abnormally,” he exclaimed.
This male manta ray, which resides in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, can reach a size of approximately eleven feet.
Dubbed as Inspector Clouseau, inspired by The Pink Panther, this animal’s pink coloration is not the result of disease or diet, but rather a genetic mutation that alters the expression of melanin.
This mutation results in a reddish or pinkish coloration, which has never been observed before in manta rays.
Inspector Clouseau has become an internet sensation due to his distinctive hue.
