Why This 1-in-50-Million Lobster Won’t Be Served—Inside the Rare Cape Cod Catch
A lobster caught off Cape Cod on April 16 isn’t ending up on anyone’s dinner plate. Its shell is split almost perfectly down the middle — one side appearing red-orange, the other dark brown — and that striking two-toned look earned it a very different fate than a typical commercial catch.
That kind of split coloration is considered extremely rare. According to Wellfleet Shellfish Company, the estimated odds of a lobster developing this type of shell are 1 in 50 million.
The lobster was caught aboard the Timothy Michael fishing vessel, the company said. Because of its rarity, it was not sent to market. Wellfleet Shellfish Company instead donated the lobster to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
“Instead of heading to market, she’s heading somewhere even more special,” the company said in a social media post.
The aquarium is operated by the National Marine Fisheries Service. It is currently closed for repairs and renovations, with plans to reopen in 2027, at which point the lobster is expected to go on public display. In the meantime, it has a temporary home elsewhere in Woods Hole.
Aquarium biologist Julia Studley and Wellfleet Shellfish Company Chief Operating Officer Dan Brandt both spoke to Popular Science about the catch and what makes this lobster so remarkable.
How a Lobster Ends Up Split Down the Middle
So what actually causes a lobster’s shell to divide into two completely different colors?
Scientists say the split coloring is likely caused by a genetic mutation or pigment irregularities. Studley offered a more detailed explanation of the biological process involved.
“Split-colorization occurs when two fertilized, unlaid eggs contact each other, causing one to absorb the other. This creates a lobster with two sets of genetic information, and the ability to store color pigments differently on either side of its shell,” Studley said.
In simpler terms, this lobster carries two distinct sets of genetic instructions — one set controlling the color pigments on one side of its shell, the other controlling the opposite side. That is what produces the dividing line that runs almost perfectly down the center, with each half expressing a completely different color.
The odds of it happening — estimated at 1 in 50 million — help explain why a catch like this one drew immediate interest.
A Survivor That Beat the Odds
Beyond the coloring, the lobster’s size has also drawn attention. At over three pounds, it has clearly been surviving in the wild for a significant stretch of time — something that does not happen often with lobsters that stand out this much.
Brandt told Popular Science, “Lobsters with unusual coloring often don’t have the camouflage to thrive for long, so the fact that this one reached over three pounds means it’s been through a lot.”
Where the Lobster Is Living for Now
Since the aquarium won’t reopen until 2027, the lobster needed a temporary home. It is currently being cared for in holding tanks at the Marine Biological Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Woods Hole, alongside other animals from the aquarium that were moved during the renovation.
Studley told Popular Science the aquarium team moved quickly once they learned about the lobster.
“As soon as we saw this beautiful and unique lobster and were offered the chance to be her potential home, we immediately started thinking about which tank to put her in and began preparations to pick her up from Wellfleet Shellfish Company in Eastham, about an hour’s drive from Woods Hole,” Studley said.
Brandt told Popular Science, “When something that rare comes across our docks, we see it as part of our role to share it with the broader community—Woods Hole Science Aquarium was the perfect fit for this lucky lobster.”
It Still Doesn’t Have a Name
The aquarium plans to care for the lobster long-term and eventually name it. Studley said the team wants to get to know its personality first before choosing a name — and they are not in any rush to decide. Lobsters can live up to 100 years, she noted, meaning this one could have many decades ahead of it at the aquarium.
Wellfleet Shellfish Company summed up the experience in its social media post: “Moments like this are why we do what we do: supporting our fishing community, protecting the ocean, and sharing its wonders with everyone.”
Studley said she hopes the lobster will eventually help visitors appreciate the science at work in a familiar species once the aquarium reopens.
“We hope visitors take away just how unique this animal is, and how amazing it is to see genetics at work in a very iconic local species,” Studley said. She added, “This animal is not only fascinating to look at but also serves as a great reminder of how intricate genetic mechanisms are and how much we should thank them for the diversity we see in the world around us!”
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
