PORTLAND — It’s unusual enough to come across a 1-in-a-million blue lobster, but a Portland lobster dealer is holding onto three rare bright-colored lobsters at the same time.

Pete McAleney of New Meadows Lobster has a bright blue, a bright orange and a calico lobster in a holding tank at his Portland business. They are in stark contrast to lobsters’ normal mottled green-and-brown color.

McAleney says having a single rare-colored lobster is uncommon, but having three at the same time is extremely unusual.

Lobster scientists say the odds of coming across orange or calico lobsters are even higher than coming across a blue lobster. Until two or three years ago, biologists said a calico lobster was a 1-in-30-million find, but now say the odds need to be recalculated.


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