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Lobster

Nephropidae

Ocean lobsters are a diverse group of marine crustaceans that belong to the order Decapoda. They have a hard exoskeleton and five pairs of legs and can be found in a variety of colors and habitats. Ocean lobsters are omnivorous and will eat a variety of foods, including plants, algae, and small invertebrates. They are solitary animals and are generally found alone or in small groups. There are many different species of ocean lobsters, including American lobsters, Caribbean spiny lobsters, European lobsters, and tropical rock lobsters. Some species of ocean lobsters have declined in population due to overfishing and habitat destruction.


Yellow American Lobster Clickable
By Steven G. Johnson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org
California Spiny Lobster Clickable
Source - nps.gov
European Lobster Clickable
By Bart Braun - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org
Tropical Rock Lobster Clickable
By CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org

Ocean lobsters are large, marine crustaceans that belong to the order Decapoda. They have a hard exoskeleton and five pairs of legs, with the front pair modified into large claws in some species. 

Lobsters have two claws, just like crabs. The larger claw is called the crusher claw, while the smaller claw is called the cutter claw. The crusher claw is used to crush and break up food, while the cutter claw is used to cut and tear food into small pieces.

They can be found in a variety of colors and can grow up to about 3-4 feet in length and weigh up to about 20 pounds.


Ocean lobsters are found in the oceans all around the world, in both shallow and deep waters. They inhabit a variety of habitats, including coral reefs, rocky shores, sandy beaches, and muddy estuaries.


Lobsters are omnivorous and will eat a variety of foods, including plants, algae, and small invertebrates. They are also known to feed on dead animals and will scavenge for food if necessary.


Ocean lobsters are solitary animals and are generally found alone or in small groups. They are nocturnal and are most active at night. Some species of ocean lobsters are also able to swim using their legs or by using their claws to paddle through the water.

Lobsters also use their claws for defense against predators, for digging for food, and for constructing burrows. The claws are also used for carrying stones and other objects, as well as for anchoring when the lobster is stationary.

There are many different species of ocean lobsters(Nephropidae), including American lobsters (Homarus americanus), Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), European lobsters (Homarus gammarus), and tropical rock lobsters (Panulirus ornatus). All of these species belong to the order Decapoda, which also includes crabs, shrimp, and prawns.

Some species of ocean lobsters are not currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, the populations of some species of ocean lobsters have declined in some areas due to overfishing and habitat destruction.