You know why Red king crabs are called Red king crabs? Because they're crabs, that are big and red. But what happens when a Red king crab... isn't red at all? That's the question that has been baffling scientists in the past few days, after a particularly strange looking crab arrived at a Japanese port the other day.
As reported by the New York Post, wholesalers at the port were shocked to discover that one of the king crabs that came in from Russia was a lavender color, rather than the usual red. The crab (seen above) was the only one in the shipment that was unique, which has led the company's president to believe that it's perhaps a sign of good things to come. "I’ve been dealing with crabs for 25 years," he said, "but this is the first time to see that color. It could be a good omen."
Experts, however, believe that the coloring is due to the crab's diet, or possibly a mutation which caused a lack of normal pigment. Still others believe the purple crab is the result of radiation, in the wake of 2011's Fukushima disaster.
The crab has been kept alive, and is currently on display at the wholesaling factory it arrived at.
Want to see a crab that's so big it could literally hug you to death? Be our guest!