Rare Orange Lobster Saved from Boiling Pot at Colorado Red Lobster

An incredibly rare orange-colored lobster with a genetic mutation narrowly escaped being served up for dinner after it was mistakenly delivered to a Red Lobster in Colorado. The lobster, caught off the coast of Canada, was nearly cooked and served with butter before its unique coloring raised suspicions among restaurant staff and guests.

The Downtown Aquarium in Denver intervened just in time to rescue the brightly colored crustacean from ending up on a seafood platter. The general manager of the Pueblo Red Lobster, where the lobster was delivered, expressed shock at the unusual lobster’s appearance, noting that regular lobsters are typically dark brown with only minor discolorations.

This genetic mutation, which affects and prevents certain proteins, is extremely rare, occurring in only about one in every 30 million lobsters. The aquarium explained that the lack of specific proteins can result in different colors like blue, yellow, and orange.

The lobster, now named “Crush” after the Denver Broncos’ famous “Orange Crush” defense, will now reside at the aquarium, joining the ranks of another orange lobster discovered in Massachusetts in 2018.

The fascinating and lucky escape of this orange lobster serves as a reminder of the remarkable diversity and beauty found in nature, even in the most unexpected places.