Split-Colored Lobster’s Odd Coloring Saves It From The Pot — Tourists Flocking To See Her
Nature is full of surprises. People over at Pine Point Fisherman’s Co-Op in Maine learned that last week when the day’s catch turned up something incredibly rare — a split-colored lobster.
Staff at the co-op aren’t sure which fisherman got the luck of the draw, but believe it was caught locally in Scarborough, NECN reported.
The creature isn’t technically split-colored, a sight that isn’t quite as exceptional. Those are usually divided perfectly in the middle, with one orange side and the other brown.
But this one is extremely special — its color is split down its tail only, with brown in its body, and a claw displaying one of each color, the Associated Press added.
“There’s probably quite a few genetic mutations that created that type of pattern,” said scientist Adam Baukus from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
Split-colored #lobster caught off Maine, 1 in 50 million find: http://t.co/J2VD5HkzUb pic.twitter.com/PkoBhBMEbt
— KTVU (@KTVU) July 9, 2015
The split-colored lobster is already “one of a kind,” or more specifically, one in 50 million, but it’s set apart from the others because of its sex.
Just like its half-and-half coloring, this very rare crustacean is usually a hermaphrodite. But the one caught in Scarborough is all lady.
For now, she is being given some pretty special treatment. For one thing, she’s avoided the fate suffered by most lobsters — a boiling water bath. She has her own separate tank at the co-op, where she’s currently being ogled by tourists and customers.
“Scientists are interested in it,” said employee Mike Chasse, “so I figured it would be in better hands here than in a pot.”
The spilt-colored lobster will end up either in a museum or aquarium; the Maine State Aquarium has already called dibs on her.
According to UPI, the tasty crustaceans come in many rare varieties, this latest find being the second rarest. That title goes to the albino variety, which you have a one in 100 million chance of ever setting eyes on.
A blue lobster is also quite hard to find; last summer, a 14-year-old girl caught one. In 2012, a calico version was discovered.
[Lead Image via Shutterstock Does Not Show Split-Colored Lobster]
