Getty Image / David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe
One of the rarest phenotypes of lobster was recently caught off Cape Cod by the Wellfleet Shellfish Company. They hauled in an ultra-rare split-color lobster in perfect condition.
The odds of a split-color lobster existing in the wild are approximately 1-in-50 million, making it rarer than a yellow lobster (1-in-30 million) and much rarer than a blue lobster (1-in-2 million).
Extremely Rare Split-Color Lobster Caught In Cape Cod
The split-color lobster was caught on April 16th by Wellfleet Shellfish Company’s F/V Timothy Michael. Most of the lobsters hauled in go straight to the market but this eye-catcher stood out for obvious reasons and was set aside.
Instead of going up for auction, the 1-in-50 million lobster is being donated to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium once the aquarium reopens. It briefly spent time with the Marine Biological Laboratory of NOAA Fisheries in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, before moving to the aquarium. The latest update from the aquarium yesterday said “she is doing great! Strolling around the tank like she owns it already!”
The Wellfleet Shellfish Company shared photos of this immaculate split-color lobster on Instagram for all of the world to see. No description of the phenotype is needed as you can look at this rare lobster and immediately know ‘yup, that’s exactly why it is called what it is.’
It never ceases to amaze me how the colors can present in such perfect line straight down the middle of the lobster. Nature is awesome. It almost looks as if the lobster was half-cooked already but the markings are entirely natural.
While the odds of this phenotype existing are 1-in-50 million, the actual chances of catching one of these lobsters in the ocean are likely much higher. That is because such striking markings on the lobster leave them vulnerable to predation.
With the bright split-coloration they stand out like a sore thumb in an ocean full of lobsters with natural camouflage colors to blend into the rocky bottom of the Northern Atlantic. When the shell is bright orange/black like this predators can spot them much easier.
What Are The Rarest Lobsters?
Getty Image / David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe
While this 1-in-50 million split-color lobster (or chimera) is among the rarest types, there are phenotypes even rarer.
A true albino/crystal lobster‘s odds of existing in the wild are 1-in-100 million. So-called ‘cotton candy’ lobsters are also 1-in-100 million.
The yellow/calico lobster’s odds are 1-in-30 million, as are the orange lobster‘s odds. Then the blue lobster is found at about 1-in-every-2 million lobsters in the wild. All are extremely rare, beautiful, and cherished.
A 1-in-100 million ‘Cotton Candy’ lobster was caught in New Hampshire two Summers ago. Check that one out!