A lobster fisherman off the coast of Maine discovered a literal 1 in a 100 million animal when he pulled a Cotton Candy Lobster from the sea. Now before you get excited, no the cotton candy lobster does not taste like cotton candy. In fact, the lobster is so rare that is now living in an aquarium.
Haddie, the rare Cotton Candy Lobster recently caught by one of our Maine lobstermen, has officially been adopted….She’s going to the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire!
What Is A Cotton Candy Lobster?
Cotton Candy lobsters get their radiating blue shell from what scientists believe is a type of albinism
It comes down to a low amount of an antioxidant that affects lobster pigment. Diet could also be a factor.
This drastic shift in coloration may stem from the lobster having unusually low astaxanthin levels, due to a diet that’s low in the compound; this could happen if the lobster mostly fed on bait fish, rather than the typical lobster diet of astaxanthin-rich crab and shrimp.
Haddie will have a long healthy life if taken care of. Lobsters can live over 100 years.
Meet Haddie! She is a Cotton Candy lobster who was caught by Lobsterman Bill. She is named after Bills granddaughter. The odds of a Cotton Candy lobster being caught is 1 in 100 Million! Know of an aquarium that she could call home? Send us a DM! pic.twitter.com/I8P38qElef
— Get Maine Lobster ? (@getmainelobster) November 9, 2021
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Consider the Lobster
But should we eat lobsters?
Besides their taste being questionable (in my opinion) there is an argument that perhaps we should consider eating lobsters due to their possible sentience. T
his line of thinking comes from the late great author and thinker David Foster Wallace. Lobsters and related creatures can form social bonds and even experience anxiety.
Anxiety felt by crayfish, which Fossat studied, is similar to the anxiety felt in humans and other vertebrates, both neurologically and in practice—that is, crayfish seek out “safe” spaces and are less likely to be adventurous if they are feeling anxious.
For those who want to eat lobster, thankfully there are ways to “dispatch” the crustacean humanely.
I eat meat and think it is normal and even preferential for humans to do this. In fact, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that eating meat helped humans evolve into the creatures we are today.
“human brain development could not have existed without a diet based on regular consumption of meat,”
Definitely not advocating for veganism or even vegetarianism. But I think we can all consider how we can consume animals in a more ethical manner.
Other Unusual Animals
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Nearly every species of animal experiences some form of albinism or other defects that affect pigmentation. Let’s take a look at the cutest ones.
Albino Giraffes:
An albino giraffe calf pic.twitter.com/MBEvClG5BN
— Baby Animals (@babyanimals4you) November 4, 2021
Now this cute penguin is not an albino but actually has another defect that causes lighter pigmentation called isabellinism.
Not an albino penguin: actually, an adelie penguin with isabellinism, a genetic mutation that dilutes the pigment in feathers; near Davis Station #Antarctica; pic Pat James @AusAntarctic pic.twitter.com/oDRvs5n8l9
— The Antarctic Report (@AntarcticReport) November 29, 2020
Albino Kangaroo – G’Day, Mate!
SPOTTED: An albino kangaroo! This amazing and rare sight was captured on camera in the bush near Big Bend on the Murray River. Courtesy of Riverglen Houseboats & @southaustralia. #9News pic.twitter.com/dtxhXIE6Z8
— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) February 24, 2019
Isn’t Haddie neat? Share her story with your friends and family.
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