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

Mark Kelly; Pete Hegseth
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mark Kelly Rips Pete Hegseth After Pentagon Moves To Cut His Pension And Demote Him Over Video About Illegal Orders

Senator Mark Kelly, who flew combat missions during the Gulf War in the U.S. Navy before being selected as a NASA Space Shuttle pilot, blasted MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, for his part in the latest Trump administration attempt to lash out at their political rivals.

Hegseth previously demanded the Navy provide punishment recommendations to the Pentagon's Office of General Counsel for the retired Captain, who flew 39 combat missions during the Gulf War before going to space four times for NASA.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tucker Carlson Dragged After Offering Truly Bonkers Theory For Why Trump Captured Nicolás Maduro

Tucker Carlson Dragged After Offering Truly Bonkers Theory For Why Trump Captured Nicolás Maduro

Former Fox News host turned far-right podcaster Tucker Carlson raised eyebrows after he claimed that President Donald Trump captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in order to bring same-sex marriage to the people of a country now in a dangerous state of flux after the U.S. invaded.

Weirdly, he claimed “pro-gay forces” were secretly driving regime change, pointing to Nobel Peace Prize recipient and opposition leader María Corina Machado's support for same-sex marriage. He suggested this is proof that "globo homo," his term for progressive liberal elites, are hard at work.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jimmy Kimmel; Donald Trump
Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association; Win McNamee/Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel Thanks Trump After Winning Critics Choice Award In A Roast For The Ages

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel mockingly thanked President Donald Trump when he took home the Critics Choice Award on Sunday for Best Talk Show, suggesting Trump helped him win the honor in part because of 'all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day."

Kimmel's remarks were considerably pointed considering the role Trump played in pulling Kimmel off the air this past autumn.

Keep ReadingShow less
Groom placing wedding ring on bride's finger
Photo by Jeongim Kwon on Unsplash

Married People Explain How Often They Take Their Wedding Ring Off

When two people get married, there's an assumption that others tend to make: that the couple will wear their wedding rings no matter what, and if they don't, it's a sign of a troubled marriage and a lack of commitment.

But there are lots of reasons not to wear wedding rings full-time, from cleanliness to safety to health concerns.

Keep ReadingShow less
Katie Miller
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Denmark Slams Stephen Miller's Wife After She Shares Image Of Greenland Covered By American Flag

The wife of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's United States Homeland Security Advisor and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller, is drawing backlash from the international community as well as the folks at home over a meme she posted on X on Saturday.

Podcaster Katie Miller, who left government service to work for Elon Musk, posted a graphic on her personal X account, an image with the caption "SOON." The image depicts a map of Greenland with the United States flag overlaid on it.

Keep ReadingShow less