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

Five elephants walking in an enclosure with trees and rocks.
ABC7News/YouTube

San Diego Zoo Elephants' Reaction To Earthquake Goes Viral—And It's Honestly Beautiful

Nature is truly amazing.

When a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook Southern California on Monday, humans braced themselves with the grade school-taught drill to "drop, cover, and hold on." But a herd of African elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, coordinated their own "alert circle" drill to stand and protect the herd against seismic danger.

Keep Reading Show less
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Donald Trump
Mario Tama/Getty Images; Win McNamee/Getty Images

Idaho Rally Erupts In Cheers After AOC Epically Blasts 'Criminal' Trump In Blistering Speech

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned President Donald Trump at a rally in Nampa, Idaho, calling him a “criminal,” a liar, and a “rapist,” and reiterated her earlier statements that some members of Congress might have participated in insider trading after it was revealed that NASDAQ call volume spiked just minutes before Trump's tariffs pause announcement.

Ocasio-Cortez, who spoke alongside Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, stressed that the pause was "all about manipulating the markets so that he could quietly enrich his friends who bought the dip before reversing it all in the morning."

Keep Reading Show less
couples feet sticking out from under blankets on bed
Womanizer Toys on Unsplash

People Explain What It's Like To Have A Higher Sex Drive Than Their Partner

According to numerous studies and surveys, sexual compatibility is a significant factor in relationship satisfaction and overall well-being for most people.

Sex influences emotional connection, trust, and communication.

Keep Reading Show less
Nayib Bukele; Donald Trump
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

El Salvador President Slammed After Claiming He 'Doesn't Have The Power' To Return Maryland Dad To U.S.

The fate of Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains unknown even after a White House visit by El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

During a press gaggle and photo op in the Oval Office on Monday, Republican President Donald Trump, members of his administration, and Bukele played pass the buck on the man the United States Supreme Court ordered returned to the United States.

Keep Reading Show less
Aimee Lou Wood
Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage/Getty Images

Aimee Lou Wood Says 'SNL' Apologized After She Called Out 'Mean' 'White Lotus' Parody

The nature of satirical writing is that some people will love the joke, and others will take issue with it, and Saturday Night Live is no exception. While some fans love their parodies of popular shows, songs, current events, and politics, others are much more critical.

But no matter how popular the show is, even the SNL writers are bound to go too far sometimes.

Keep Reading Show less