Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

A Rare Intersex Lobster Named 'Bowie' Is Now A TikTok Sensation—And We Can See Why

TikTok screenshots of Jacob Knowles and Bowie the lobster
@jacob_knowles/TikTok

After lobster fisherman Jacob Knowles showed off the rare half-male, half-female lobster on TikTok, he decided to keep it as a pet—and smitten TikTokers named it 'Bowie' after androgynous rocker David Bowie.

A lobster went viral on TikTok, y'all, and honestly, we're obsessed.

Lobster fisherman Jacob Knowles (@jacob_knowles) unveiled the lobster on the social media platform and the crustacean instantly became an online sensation due to its incredibly rare features.


First of all, the lobster is half blue and half brown "split 50/50 right down its back," a trait University of Maine's Lobster Institute says is found in only one of every 50 million lobsters.

But that's not all that makes the discovery a rare find: The lobster also has both male and female reproductive characteristics.

The TikToker explained:

“This is the coolest lobster I’ve ever seen. Not only is it split 50/50 right down its back – blue and normal – but if you look underneath, it’s actually half male half female."

He continued:

“The blue side is a male, the normal side is a female, split 50/50 perfectly.”

The lobster, as Knowles explained, was caught by a friend and given to him to show off on his TikTok. So, in true TikTok fashion, the creator asked his viewers if he should keep the lobster as a pet or release it, which could allow for other fishermen to find and sell it.

You can watch below.

@jacob__knowles

Craziest lobster ever! What do you want to do with it? Let me know in the comments! #maine #lobster #fishing #ocean #interesting #commercialfishing #fy #LobsterTok #educate #didyouknow #coolcatch #rare #rarefind

Needless to say, the vote was unanimous...

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

... and the fisherman now had a lobster in his care.

In a follow-up TikTok, Knowles shared with his viewers that he planned on keeping the lobster in hopes that it might "develop eggs onto one side of its tail."

He also added:

"If we catch some other cool lobsters, we may put them in with it and see if we can make some pretty babies."

Knowles then sought audience recommendations for a potential name.

You can watch the follow-up below.

@jacob__knowles

Replying to @GrackleTree We need help naming it! Most liked name wins! As long as it’s tik tok appropriate!! 😂 #maine #lobster #fishing #ocean #interesting #commercialfishing #fy #LobsterTok #educate #didyouknow #coolcatch #rare #rarefind #seafood #crazy #oneinamillion

One viewer suggested "Bowie" as a name for the lobster because "he had a blue eye and [was] androgynous."

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

And many in the comments piggybacked off the Bowie recommendation.

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

In part 3 of the lobster series, Knowles revealed that "Bowie" was the winner, adding:

"It's a good name."

He did, however, also like the suggestions for "50%...quite a lot."

The TikToker shared with Bowie's following that the lobster would be getting a new cage donated by Friendship Trap.

"The next step is to get this down to the harbor and get it in the water and get the lobster in its new home."

He also added that he's going to add "some homey touches."

@jacob__knowles

Replying to @bleepblopnrocksteady Meet Bowie! #maine #lobster #fishing #ocean #interesting #commercialfishing #fy #LobsterTok #educate #didyouknow #coolcatch #rare #rarefind #oneinamillion #crazy

Knowles did add the "homey touches," a little bucket house with some seaweed and a fish, and sent Bowie back to the water in his new abode.

The TikToker explained that he would only be caging Bowie for a few months to see if it develops any eggs, but he will be looking for a permanent home for the lobster in the meantime.

He did also inform his viewers that there is a chance Bowie won't survive.

But we're not going to think about that.

Check out Bowie's new home below.

@jacob__knowles

Bowie part 4! #maine #lobster #fishing #ocean #interesting #commercialfishing #fy #LobsterTok #educate #didyouknow #coolcatch #rare #rarefind #oneinamillion #crazy #petlobster

Several in the comments gave suggestions for their favorite aquariums where Bowie might find a happy new life.

The rest shared their continued infatuation with the lobster.

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

@jacob_knowles/TikTok

The latest update, posted just last week, shows no sign of eggs yet, but Bowie is thriving in his new home!

@jacob__knowles

Bowie the lobster part 5. Treid to get some underwater footage but my go pro wasn’t cooperating. Will get some soon! #maine #lobster #fishing #commercialfishing #lobsterfishing #lobstertok #fy #interesting #didyouknow #learn #oceantok #fyp #coolcatch #rare #rarefind

And we're officially obsessed.

More from Trending

Cartoon Network headquarters; Pride flags
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images; Noam Galai/Getty Images

Cartoon Network Trolls Homophobes Hard For Melting Down Over Pride Month Fan Art

The cable TV channel Cartoon Network, like most normal people, is celebrating Pride Month this month, and it did so with a post on Instagram that, predictably, has conservatives crying in their Cheerios like a bunch of triggered babies.

The post featured fan art depicting characters from the network's roster of shows over the years waving various LGBTQ+ Pride flags and the like.

Keep ReadingShow less
screenshot of AI generated video of Donald Trump
@WhiteHouse/X

White House Dragged After Sharing Doctored Video Of Bar Erupting In Cheers Over Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'

On Tuesday, the official social media account for the White House tried to drum up support for MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, but only on right-wing platforms.

The legislation to further Project 2025 through more tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts to programs that serve the poor and working class has struggled since the start.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump speaking to military members at Fort Bragg
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

Trump Gets U.S. Military Troops To Boo Democrats And 'Fake News' During Alarming Speech

Members of the military stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, erupted in boos when President Donald Trump goaded them during a speech in which he attacked former President Joe Biden, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and the "fake news" covering the ongoing protests in L.A. in response to the Trump administration's immigration raids.

The military has a longstanding tradition of remaining nonpartisan so it was striking that those in attendance, many of whom wore military fatigues, booed in the first place.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shot of a neon shop sign saying "body piercing." The word body is blue, and piercing is red.
Photo by Kaylee Eden on Unsplash

Regrettable Things People Did To Their Body They Wish They Could Reverse

When we're young and impulsive we rarely think about impact, consequences, and the future.

That's the downfall of youth.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stephen King; Donald Trump
Rick Kern/WireImage; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Stephen King Just Trolled Trump With A 'TACO Tuesday' Image That's Total Nightmare Fuel

Famed horror author Stephen King had fans recoiling after he trolled President Donald Trump by sharing an image of Trump as a taco that was generated using artificial intelligence.

For those who missed it, Trump recently criticized Wall Street analysts over their new "TACO" acronym insult, which stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out."

Keep ReadingShow less