Unique Genetic Mutation
An orange lobster, a rarity due to a genetic mutation occurring in only one in 30 million lobsters, was nearly served at a Colorado Red Lobster. The Downtown Aquarium in Denver reported that the brightly colored crustacean was shipped to the Pueblo restaurant, located about 110 miles south of Denver, as part of a routine seafood delivery.
Identifying the unique lobster
The lobster’s striking orange shell, unlike the typical dark brown of regular lobsters, drew immediate attention. “Having one that was bright orange that none of us had ever seen was definitely a bit of a shock,” said Kendra Kastendieck, the general manager of the Pueblo Red Lobster. Some guests even mistook it for a pre-cooked lobster due to its unusual coloring.
Rescue and relocation
Caught off the coast of Canada, the lobster was identified before it could be cooked. The aquarium explained that the lobster’s orange coloration is due to a genetic mutation affecting and preventing encoded proteins. This can result in various colors, including blue, yellow, and orange.
The orange lobster, now named “Crush” in homage to the Denver Broncos’ famed “Orange Crush” defense, arrived at the Downtown Aquarium on Wednesday. In a similar incident in 2018, another orange lobster was found at a Massachusetts supermarket and donated to a local aquarium.