European lobster

General

Lobsters and crayfish

Lobsters live in saltwater whilst crayfish live in freshwater habitats. Lobsters and crayfish are most often caught using pots or traps. Most lobsters are equipped with ten legs and two scissors as front legs. With these scissors, they are able to grab, cut or crack their food. Did you know lobsters and crayfish, just lie snakes, change their skin because their shell does not grow with their bodies? After changing their shell the animal grows fast and increases in weight.

There are many different lobster species. Most common are the American lobster in the north-western Atlantic ocean, and the European lobster in the north-eastern Atlantic ocean. Lobsters have a relatively slow growth rate and reach sexual maturity at a late age. Another frequently consumed lobster is the Norway lobster. This species is way smaller than the American and European lobster. This species occurs in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Mediterranean sea.

European lobster

The European lobster can be found along the north-eastern Atlantic coast and in the Mediterranean Sea. These scavengers can reach sizes up to 60 cm and weigh up to 6 kg. The lobsters make their homes in holes between rocks on rocky ocean floors. The European lobster is quite similar to the American lobster but can be distinguished by the spines on their claws. While the European lobster has white spines on its claws, the American lobster has red spines on its claws.