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]
