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.
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.
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."
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.
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!
And we're officially obsessed.
@WUTangKids/X
@WUTangKids/X
@WUTangKids/X
@WUTangKids/X
