This month, a light blue snow crab was caught in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture.
This rare colored crab is displayed alive in the aquarium.
The light blue snow crab is on display at the Echizen Matsushima Aquarium in Sakai City.
Its shell is about 12 centimeters wide, and it is displayed alongside the common red snow crab. It also has a yellow tag attached to its leg to indicate that it is a Fukui brand of Echizen crab.
This crab, which was caught in Sakai City on the 24th of this month, was contacted by a fisherman because of its unusual color and was decided to be exhibited.
The cause of the light blue color is unknown, but the Echizen Matsushima Aquarium says, ``It is thought that for some reason there was an abnormality in the amount and function of the pigment.''
This aquarium has exhibited white snow crabs before, but it is the first time for light blue snow crabs.
A 6th grade elementary school student from Toyama Prefecture said, "I've never seen a red crab with a completely different color. I was lucky to see a rare crab."
Mr. Tomoyasu Nagata of the Echizen Matsushima Aquarium said, ``I think you can see the difference in color when you compare it with the red crab in the same aquarium, so I would like you to take this opportunity to see a rare crab.''