A restaurant owner in China’s coast city of Qingdao found a rare albino sea cucumber in the box of sea cucumber he bought on Saturday. Measuring in at roughly 18 cm in length, the sea cucumber was snowy white. The owner said this was the first time he had seen a white one in his 15 years of purchasing sea cucumbers, according to a Qingdao News report.

It is estimated that the chance of finding a white one is one in 200,000. Therefore, a white albino sea cucumber is extremely valuable. It is reported that five of such rare sea species were sold for RMB160,000 (over $23,000) in eastern China's Shandong province.

Traditional Chinese medicine attributes several medicinal benefits to consuming sea cucumbers, including lowering one’s blood pressure and improving skin complexion. In fact, it’s regarded as a delicacy in China, reserved for special occasions. And white cucumbers, because of a perceived high-level of selenium, are constantly in high demand.

Albino sea cucumbers are rarely found because their lack of camouflage makes them an easy target for potential predators. However, last year Chinese scientists at the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, reportedly uncovered the genetic makeup of albino sea cucumbers and began reproducing them for aquaculture. This is sure to saturate the market and lower the price of the prized delicacy. 

The restaurant owner has told media he planned to donate his rare creature to scientific research.