You might be hard-pressed to send these incredibly colored lobsters to the pot. Several naturally occurring genetic mutations can transform your typical mottled brown lobster into one with magical hues.
Blue Lobster
image credit: n-sb.org
image credit: sneakermestupid.comOne in 2-5 million lobsters are blue. A genetic defect causes a blue lobster to produce an excessive amount of protein. The protein and a red carotenoid molecule known as astaxanthin, combine to form a blue complex known as crustacyanin, giving the lobster its blue color.
Half and Half or “Two Tone” Lobster
image credit: bukisa.com
image credit: moblog.whmsoft.net
One in 50 million lobsters are half and half colored!
Albino Lobster
image credit: niketalk.yuku.comOnly about one in 100 million lobsters are albino – lacking in colored pigments. These are also referred to as “white” or “crystal” lobsters due to their metallic appearance.
Yellow Lobster
image credit: seacoastonline.com
image credit: news.gather.com
One in 30 million are yellow – caused by a rare genetic mutation.
Calico Lobster
image credit: akfiles.comAgain, the odds of finding one of these mottled yellow and black lobsters are one in 30 million.
“Phantom of the Opera” Lobster
image credit: captjoe06, via Flickr
This is actually an example of another half and half lobster, however the albino part of the lobster formed so that it resembles the Phantom of the Opera with the white mask on one side of his face!
Pretty amazing stuff. My favorite is by far the phantom of the opera lobster, what’s yours??
EDIT July 23: Lobstermen have been reportedly finding many more odd colored lobsters in their traps than ever before. A recent article states that, “It’s anybody’s guess why more oddities are popping up in lobster traps, said Michael Tlusty, research director at the New England Aquarium in Boston.
It could be simply because advances in technology — cellphone cameras and social media — make it easier to spread the word about bizarre lobster sightings.
It’s also likely more weird lobsters are being caught because the overall harvest has soared. In Maine, the catch has grown fourfold in the past 20 years, to nearly 105 million pounds last year. If the yield has quadrupled, it would make sense to have four times as many unconventional lobsters being caught as well.”
© Rebecca Mcaleney / AP
