Incredibly rare split-colored lobster found in Cape Cod

EASTHAM, Ma. (WINK) — A Cape Cod seafood purveyor, Wellfleet Shellfish Company, found an incredibly rare split-colored lobster, opting to donate it to a local aquarium.

According to the seafood purveyor, the orange and black lobster was caught off Cape Cod on one of the company's fishing vessels, the “Timothy Michael”, on March 16.

Wellfleet Shellfish Company states that the split-color lobster, also known as a bilateral lobster, has roughly a 1 in 50 million chance of being found, underscoring how miraculous a find like this is.

Now, with the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, the lobster is currently housed in a tank at the Marine Biological Laboratory amid construction of the aquarium. 

Once the aquarium opens, which was not specified in the press release, the lobster will be on public display for all to see. 

According to the release, split coloration can occur from genetic mosaicism, which can cause pigment irregularities during development. In rare cases, this split can cause gynandromorphism, resulting in offspring that is both male and female.