It is a very special lobster. This yellow crustacean, formally known as ‘crystal lobster’, is truly rare. It emerges 1 out of every 30 million copies . It was picked up in the Gulf of Maine by Tenants Harbor lobster fisherman Marly Babb, who generously donated her catch to the University of New England Center for Marine Sciences.
Colored lobsters?
There are other rare lobster specimens in colors like blue or white but the odds are small too. The chance of finding a blue lobster is 1 in 2 million.
How are they born with this color?
The blue and yellow lobsters are the product of a genetic mutation in the proteins that bind with the pigments of the shell and lead to a reduction in the pigmentation of the animal. This genetic condition is known as leucism and it makes animals appear paler compared to others. It is the only variety of lobster that does not turn red when cooked.
Is the yellow color of Banana a result of climate change? Could be. Several studies published in 2019 determined that the ocean is getting warmer and warmer and local differences in oceanography are affecting lobster populations in southern New England to Atlantic Canada. So the yellow exterior of this lobster could be the result of climate change.
Leucism, unfortunately, makes these creatures more visible to predators, giving them a lower chance of survival.
