A two-toned lobster is seen in a marine sciences lab at the University of New England, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Biddeford, Maine. The rare color scheme is the result of two eggs fusing together to create a one-in-50 million lobster.(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Lobsters in shades of orange, blue, calico, two-toned, and even cotton-candy colored have been making headlines recently. These rare and unusually colored crustaceans have appeared in fishers' traps, seafood markets, and laboratories, sparking interest in their rarity. One particular shade—baby blue, often called "cotton-candy colored"—is estimated to occur as rarely as 1 in 100 million.
In the last year, sightings of these uniquely colored lobsters have increased in places like Maine, New York, and Colorado, prompting scientists to question just how rare they actually are. As with many scientific inquiries, the answer isn’t straightforward.
Andrew Goode, the lead scientist for the American Lobster Settlement Index at the University of Maine, explains that lobsters’ colors can vary due to genetic and dietary factors. He cautions that estimates about their rarity should be viewed skeptically, as no central authority tracks the occurrence of these color mutations. Despite their striking appearance, Goode notes, “They don’t taste any different.”
Wild lobsters are typically mottled brown and only turn the classic orange-red color after boiling. Color variations can result from genetic mutations affecting shell pigments. However, Markus Frederich, a marine sciences professor at the University of New England in Maine, emphasizes that commonly cited odds—such as 1 in a million for blue lobsters—are rough estimates. He and his students are currently developing noninvasive methods to extract genetic samples from lobsters to better understand the genetic mechanisms behind these color mutations.
Frederich's lab also maintains a collection of unusually colored lobsters, including an orange one named Peaches, who gave birth to thousands of offspring this year. Interestingly, about half of them were orange, an abnormality Frederich is studying further. His goal is to uncover the genetic basis for these rare shell colors.
Among Frederich’s lobsters is Tamarind, a two-toned lobster with one side orange and the other typical brown. This lobster resulted from two eggs fusing into one animal, a phenomenon estimated to occur as rarely as 1 in 50 million.
Recent news stories have highlighted orange lobsters appearing in unexpected places, including a Stop & Shop in Long Island, New York, and a Red Lobster in Colorado. Despite their rarity, longtime lobster researcher Richard Wahle suggests that, given the scale of the U.S. lobster industry, it’s not surprising to see a few of these odd-colored lobsters each year. With millions of lobsters being harvested annually, even the rarest colors are bound to show up occasionally.
