European Lobster (Homarus gammarus) is a large marine crayfish known to with its strong carapace, powerful pincers and durability. Its meat counts an exquisite delicacy, and the species itself plays an important role in the ecosystems of the European seas.
These crustaceans live in coastal waters of Europe, where they lead solo, nocturnal lifestyle and they are cleverly disguised among the rocks and sand.
Classification
🔬 Scientific classification:
✔ The Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
✔ Type: Arthropods (Arthropoda)
✔ Class: Crustaceans (Malacostraca)
✔ Row: Decapod crayfish (Decapoda)
✔ Family: Nephropidae
✔ Gender: Homarus
✔ View: Homarus gammarus
📌 Interesting!
Closest relative of the European lobster – american lobster (Homarus americanus), which is larger in size but has a less saturated color.
Appearance and dimensions
📏 Main Features:
• Length: to 60 cm
• Weight: to 6 kg
• Life span: 40-70 years old
🎨 Color scheme:
• Dark blue or dark green with light spots
• The abdomen and claws are lighter, with noticeable dashes
• After cooking, it changes color to red due to the destruction of the astaxanthin pigment
🔍 Body type:
• Powerful carapace - protects against predators
• Two large claws:
• One is massive, "crushing", for crushing food
• The second one is sharp, "cutting", for cutting soft tissues
• Long mustache - organs of touch and smell
📌 Interesting!
If a lobster loses its claw, it can grow it back with subsequent molts!
Living environment
🌍 Where does the European lobster live?
* Atlantic Ocean-European coast from Norway to North Africa
• Mediterranean and Black Sea (rarely)
• Depth: 2-150 m
• Habitats:
* Rocky reefs
* Sandy and rocky soils
* Underwater caves
🔍 Temperature conditions:
Optimal temperature – 15–18°C, but it can withstand significant fluctuations.
📌 Interesting!
Lobsters avoid open spaces and active users at night.
Lifestyle and behavior
🦞 How does Omar live?
• Single, territorial
• It lives in burrows that it digs in the sandy bottom
• Nocturnal predator "he hides during the day and goes out hunting at night
• It has strong protection-a strong shell and claws
📌 Interesting!
European lobsters can live to be 70 years oldbut because of fishing, they rarely reach this age.
Food
🍖 What does a lobster eat?
• Fish and shellfish
• Squid, sea urchins
• Crustaceans (crabs, shrimps)
• Seaweed and carrion
🔍 Hunting methods:
* Powerful pincers help crush clam shells
* Uses sense of smell and touch for finding food at night
📌 Interesting!
If there is not enough food, lobsters can cannibalize weaker relatives.
Reproduction
👶 How do lobsters breed?
• Females lay up to 40,000 eggs
• Incubation lasts 9-12 months
• The larvae swim freely in the water column
• After a few molts, they settle to the bottom and lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle.
📌 Interesting!
Just 0.1% of larvae it survives to adulthood because of predators.
Human interaction
⚠ Is it dangerous for humans?
• Not aggressivebut it can hurt to pinch
• Used in cooking
🍽 Lobster in cooking:
* One of the most expensive seafood products
* Grilled, boiled, baked
* Known for "lobster bisque soup"
🎣 Fishing industry:
* Caught in traps (yaters)
* Controlled fishing
* Minimum catch size – 87 mm of carapace
📌 Interesting!
The largest lobster caught weighed 9.3 kg!
Interesting facts
📌 TOP 5 facts about the European Lobster:
1️⃣ Changes color during cooking - through the pigment astaxanthin
2️⃣ Lives up to 70 years, but rarely reaches this age due to the catch
3️⃣ Can restore lost claws
4️⃣ It has the most powerful claws among all crustaceans
5️⃣ Males and females "dance" before mating
Conclusion
European Lobster (Homarus gammarus) is majestic atlantic resident, which combines power, endurance, and culinary value.
Despite his important role in marine ecosystems, overfishing threatens populations, so it is necessary to conservation measures.
Its long life, nocturnal lifestyle and unique structure make it one of the most interesting marine life!
