A new lavender purple crab was discovered in a batch of red king crab in Japan on January 18.
Japan Today reported that the crab was discovered in a shipment imported from Russia to Japan. The crab weighs about 3.5 kg, is about a meter long, and has a blue-purple color like lavender.
Staff at the Marusan Mikami Shoten import company said they had never seen such an oddly colored Emperor Crab.
“I’ve been in the crab business for 25 years, but this is the first time I’ve seen a blue purple crab. It could bode well, ”consignment owner Kenetsu Mikami said.Exotic purple king crab in Japan
According to experts from the Hokkaido Research Organization, the reason why crab color is caused by the influence of diet or by a mutation that causes crabs to lack pigmentation.
Marusan Mikami’s staff said they would not sell or eat the crab, but would keep it alive and showcase it.
