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A rare two-toned lobster has captured the attention of New Englanders, bringing curiosity and wonder to the region. This extraordinary crustacean, found off Cape Cod, features a striking split coloration-one side displays the usual brown hues, while the other boasts a vivid bright orange, stretching from its head all the way to its tail.
Wellfleet Shellfish Company, based in Eastham, Massachusetts, discovered this unusual lobster on April 16 and decided to donate it to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium in Falmouth rather than send it to the kettle. The company has been receiving numerous inquiries about the lobster since the find and shared that the specimen is currently housed in holding tanks at the Marine Biological Laboratory while the aquarium undergoes construction. Visitors will have the chance to see this natural marvel once the aquarium reopens.
Lobsters with unique coloration are occasionally caught along New England’s coast, but a perfectly split two-colored lobster is especially rare. Typically, American lobsters sport mottled brown shells, but genetic mutations can produce a variety of colors-from blue and orange to spotted calico and even the vibrant “cotton candy” lobsters.
Marine sciences expert Markus Frederich from the University of New England explains that a two-colored lobster may result from the fusion of two lobster eggs developing into a single animal. While estimates exist on the frequency of these color variations, Frederich notes they are approximations rather than precise counts.
For Wellfleet Shellfish Company, this lobster is more than just a catch-it’s a remarkable and exciting discovery that highlights the fascinating diversity of marine life off Cape Cod.