BIDDEFORD, Maine (Univ of New England/CBS Newspath/WKRC) – A rare white lobster known as a “ghost” lobster has arrived at the University of New England, where researchers will study the genetic causes of unusual lobster shell colors.
The lobster, named Casper, is estimated to occur in about 1 in 100 million lobsters, according to the University of New England. It was donated by the Maine State Aquarium in Boothbay and will live at UNE’s Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center.
Casper will join a research project led by marine sciences professor Markus Frederich. The team uses noninvasive genetic sampling to examine why some American lobsters develop rare colors instead of the species’ usual mottled brown shell.
The effort began in 2024 after UNE received several unusually colored lobsters, including orange, yellow, blue, purple, calico and split-colored animals.
Researchers are analyzing more than 15,000 genes from juvenile lobsters born to Peaches, an orange lobster estimated to occur in about 1 in 30 million animals. Peaches produced offspring with a range of colors, creating an unusual opportunity to study how shell coloration may be inherited.
Casper is the rarest-colored lobster to join the project so far.
“Animals like Casper capture people’s attention because they are so rare and beautiful,” Frederich said. “But, for us, they also provide an amazing opportunity to ask fundamental biological questions.”