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

Tina Turner
Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images

A Massive Sculpture Of Tina Turner Was Just Unveiled—And It's Going Viral For All The Wrong Reasons

When it comes to entertainment legends, the late singer Tina Turner is right at the top of the pantheon.

And fittingly, the songstress' hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee, wanted to pay tribute to her legacy with giant statue of the icon.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Marjorie Taylor Greene
(L-R) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Ted Cruz Clashes With 'Crazy' MTG Over Her Cryptic Post Alluding That 'The Jews' Are Trying To Kill Her

Texas MAGA Republican Senator Rafael "Ted" Cruz raised eyebrows when he attacked Georgia QAnon/MAGA Republican Representative and conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) for being antisemitic.

MTG has promoted some antisemitic conspiracy theories in the past, like Jewish space lasers that control the weather or start wildfires, but this time people are calling Cruz out for reaching in an attempt to discredit the Georgia Republican and protect Trump from what's being concealed in FBI, Department of Justice, and court records relating to the indictment of Jeffrey Epstein on charges of sex trafficking of minors.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Screenshot of Zohran Mamdani; Donald Trump
CNN; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Zohran Mamdani Claps Back After Trump Threatens To Withhold Federal Funding To NYC If He Becomes Mayor

Zohran Mamdani—the Democratic Socialist New York City mayoral candidate who stunned the establishment with a seismic win for progressives that has reverberated across the country—criticized President Donald Trump's threats to withhold federal funds if Mamdani wins November's election.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Mamdani a "New York City Communist" and said he "will prove to be one of the best things to ever happen to our great Republican Party."

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Kid Rock
JP Yim/Getty Images for Clinton Global Initiative; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Epically Shuts Down Suggestion That Kid Rock Should Be Doing Super Bowl Halftime Show

Earlier this week, the NFL announced that worldwide superstar Bad Bunny would be the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show, causing right-wing heads to explode over the news.

After far-right provocateur Nick Adams suggested that the singer, a fierce critic of the Trump administration, should not have been chosen for the halftime gig, California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office took to X to mock him in the account's now familiar Trump-esque style.

Keep ReadingShow less
One hand pouring pills into another.
person holding white round ornament

Absurd 'Cures' People With Chronic Illnesses Were Told To Try

Those suffering from a chronic illness often find themselves in over their heads with medication prescribed by their doctors.

Even so, many people add some homeopathic medications that won't be found at a pharmacy, but help them through their day-to-day lives.

Keep ReadingShow less