Just in time for Halloween: Massachusetts fisherman catches a “Jack-O’-Lantern” calico lobster

Mother Nature once again has astounded us, this time with a remarkable marine discovery off the coast of Massachusetts. A rare crustacean, known as a calico lobster, has been found, showing off a striking orange shell with black spots and blue joints. Such a coloration is so rare that boffins estimate the probability of encountering one at approximately 1 in 30 million.

The lobster was caught by Mike Tufts, a lobsterman from Gloucester, who instantly recognised its strange appearance and kindly decided to donate it to Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center in Nahant.

The unexpected arrival has captivated visitors at the Marine Science Center, where she resides in a specially designated tank. Soon after being seen by scientists, the lobster was named “Jackie”, after Jack-o-lantern.

Sierra Munoz, from the Marine Science Center, explained the reason behind Jackie’s colouring: “That’s something we see in a lot of crustaceans that gives most lobsters a reddish color. In this world, the calico, the astaxanthin, is sort of combined in different ways at different points around the shell with other pigments, and that gives her this really rare, almost freckled, look.”

The distinctive coloration of this calico lobster results from a unique combination of pigments and proteins. Additionally, the lobster’s joints exhibit a blue coloration, a feature caused by a protein known as crustacyanin.

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While Jackie’s beautiful appearance is a testament to the wonders of nature, it also highlights the complexities of marine biology. Her existence underscores the incredible diversity found within marine ecosystems and the ongoing need for conservation efforts to protect such unique species.

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