On December 27, 2024, in Maine, USA, known for its abundant lobster population, local fishermen occasionally catch rare-colored lobsters, such as blue or orange ones, and even dual-colored lobsters with uniform distribution of two colors on each side of their bodies.
Recently, the Shaw Institute Environmental Education Center in Blue Hill, Maine, showcased a rare dual-colored lobster to the public. The center stated that they recently acquired a small creature – a truly rare and beautiful marine creature, a Split-Colored lobster named Arnold Clawmer!
On December 24, the education center announced in a press release that a very compassionate customer discovered Arnold at the Shop and Save store in Milbridge, Maine, and purchased it, later donating it to the Marine Learning Center.
“It took some time for Arnold to adapt to life in the tank at the Bar Harbor Aquarium,” said the Shaw Education Center.
Scientists from the University of New England in Maine explained that these lobsters with rare colors are likely a result of genetic mutations. Dual-colored lobsters have been relatively rare over the past decade, but have been discovered annually in recent years.
The Shaw Institute Environmental Education Center introduced that dual-colored lobsters occur in the initial stages of lobster egg development. Not only are there conditions limiting genetic factors, but also conditions related to the mother lobster herself. Therefore, lobsters like these are extremely rare, with only one (dual-colored lobster) possibly in every 50 million lobsters caught.
Lobsters have two claws of different sizes – the crusher claw is shorter and thicker, while the cutter claw is longer and slender. The education center mentioned that lobsters usually use the crusher claw to grab and crush food, with the crusher claw typically more often found on the right side. However, Arnold Clawmer’s crusher claw is on the left side, making it even more rare.
In Maine, the lobster fishing industry is valued at over $700 million. Every year, Maine harvests between 100 to 200 million pounds of lobsters, surpassing the total catch in other coastal areas along the Atlantic.