lobsters

Lobsters are marine crustaceans that belong to two broad groups within the order Decapoda: true lobsters, such as the American lobster (Homarus americanus) and the European lobster (Homarus gammarus), and spiny lobsters (Palinuridae), which lack the large front claws. True lobsters typically possess a pair of substantial claws, while spiny lobsters have long antennae and a more spiny exoskeleton, but do not develop the oversized claws.

Lobsters have a hard, segmented exoskeleton, a cephalothorax covered by a carapace, and an abdomens with multiple curled segments. They use their first pair of legs as claws: a larger crusher claw and a smaller cutter claw in many true lobsters. Spiny lobsters lack these prominent claws and rely on speed and sharp spines for defense. Lobsters grow by molting, periodically shedding their exoskeletons as they increase in size. Growth and maturation can take several years, with juveniles passing through planktonic larval stages before settling to bottom habitats.

Lobsters are benthic and inhabit cold, saltwater environments on rocky, sandy, or complex substrates at various depths. They are omnivorous scavengers and opportunistic predators, feeding on fish, mollusks, worms, and organic matter. They are primarily nocturnal and can cover large distances in search of food. Reproduction involves females carrying fertilized eggs under the abdomen until they hatch into free-swimming larvae, which undergo several larval stages before becoming adults.

Economically, lobsters are a major seafood resource in many regions. Commercial fisheries use traps and pots, and management measures such as size limits and quotas are employed to prevent overfishing and protect vulnerable populations.