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

Lilly Wachowski; Keanu Reeves
So True with Caleb Hearon/YouTube; Warner Bros.

Lilly Wachowski Shares How She Had To 'Let Go' Of 'The Matrix' After It Was Twisted By Right-Wing Theories

Matrix co-creator Lilly Wachowski has opened up about what it's been like to see her magnum opus The Matrix be co-opted by the far-right.

Anywhere you go in online spaces for the past 10-15 years, right-wing weirdos talk about being "red-pilled," a reference to the film's plot point in which lead character Neo is offered a red pill that will enlighten him to the realities of the systems ruling our lives, or a blue pill that will allow him to stay ignorant.

Keep ReadingShow less
Madonna; Donald Trump
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Madonna Rips Trump Administration's 'Absurd' Decision Not To Mark World AIDS Day For First Time Since 1988

Pop icon, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor Madonna has a bone to pick with the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump.

On Monday, the Queen of Pop noted on Instagram that December 1 was World AIDS Day, but the United States government wouldn't be acknowledging it for the first time since the World Health Organization had established the day in 1988.

Keep ReadingShow less
Franklin the Turtle illustration; Pete Hegseth
CBC Television

'Franklin The Turtle' Publisher Condemns Pete Hegseth For Turning Beloved Character Into Violent Meme

Kids Can Press, the Canadian publisher behind the beloved Franklin children's books, condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a statement after he shared an AI-generated image of Franklin the Turtle to justify his attacks on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.

Hegseth's original meme, which he inexplicably captioned "for your Christmas wish list," features a doctored book cover titled Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists and shows Franklin, the protagonist of the popular Canadian children's book series authored by Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Brenda Clark, firing a bazooka from a helicopter at boats in the water below.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sabrina Carpenter; Donald Trump
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Win McNamee/Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter Rips White House For Using Her Song In 'Evil And Disgusting' Pro-ICE Video

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter warned the White House not to use her music for their "inhumane" agenda after the executive branch posted a video of ICE raids that used her song "Juno" without her consent.

The video released by the White House repurposed a line from Carpenter’s viral “have you ever tried this one” lyric, turning the playful phrase into a backdrop for a montage of ICE agents pursuing, detaining, and handcuffing immigrants.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Reveal The Strangely Specific Things About Someone That Give Off A Bad Vibe

I have feelings about people.

I'm not an empath.

Keep ReadingShow less