Rare Two-Toned Lobster Spared From Pot, Donated to Woods Hole Aquarium
Eastham, Massachusetts: A Cape Cod seafood company has donated a rare two-colored lobster to a science center, sparing it from the kettle because of its remarkable coloration.
The lobster is typical brown on one side and bright orange on the other. The two-toned pattern runs all the way from its head to its tail. Wellfleet Shellfish Co. in Eastham said Monday it has been fielding inquiries about the crustacean for days. The company gifted the lobster to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
“The lobster is now with Woods Hole Science Aquarium’s animals currently being housed in holding tanks at the Marine Biological Laboratory during the aquarium’s construction period,” the company said in a statement. “When the aquarium reopens, the lobster will be on display, offering visitors a rare look at one of the ocean’s most striking natural anomalies.”
Split-colored lobsters are estimated to occur in roughly 1 in 50 million catches. The unusual coloration is caused by a genetic mutation that affects pigment distribution during early development.
The aquarium has not announced a reopening date, but staff say the lobster is healthy and adjusting well to its new tank. Once on exhibit, it will join the center’s collection of local marine life used for education and research.
