University of New England receives rare white lobster for genetic study

A rare white American lobster, nicknamed ‘Casper’, has arrived at the University of New England’s Maine Marine Science Center for study. Donated by the Maine State Aquarium, the crustacean possesses a nearly completely white shell with small bluish spots, a coloration resulting from a lack of proteins responsible for pigment production.

Experts estimate the odds of finding a lobster with this specific coloring at approximately one in 100 million. Researchers, including marine science professor Markus Frederich, intend to use the specimen to investigate the genetic mechanisms behind various color mutations in lobsters. The university has been conducting research on unusual lobster colors since 2024, studying specimens that are orange, blue, yellow, purple, and multicolored.

While most American lobsters are greenish-brown for camouflage, genetic alterations can change pigment levels. For example, blue lobsters occur roughly once in 2 million individuals, while orange ones are estimated at one in 30 million. The research team utilizes non-invasive methods to analyze genetic material, allowing for the study of these animals without causing injury.