American lobster | Lobsters, Lobster, Claw, Shell, Than

American lobster

(Homarus americanus) Many of us may be more familiar with seeing lobsters on our dinner plate rather than in the ocean.

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Although, a lobster out roaming the ocean floor looks a little different than when it arrives on our plate. On average, adults are approximately 9 inches long and weigh about 2 pounds. However, there are reports of large adult lobsters weighing over 40 pounds! The majority of the body of the lobster is encased in a mottled, greenish brown shell or carapace, although some lobsters can exhibit different shell colors. In fact, an extremely rare genetic mutation, about 1 American lobster (Homarus americanus) Many of us may be more familiar with seeing lobsters on our dinner plate rather than in the ocean. Although, a lobster out roaming the ocean floor looks a little different than when it arrives on our plate. On average, adults are approximately 9 inches long and weigh about 2 pounds. However, there are reports of large adult lobsters weighing over 40 pounds! The majority of the body of the lobster is encased in a mottled, greenish brown shell or carapace, although some lobsters can exhibit different shell colors. In fact, an extremely rare genetic mutation, about 1 in a million, causes some lobsters to be blue! As lobsters grow, they shed or molt their old shell and a new one takes its place. Sticking out from this shell is the head of the lobster, which contains sensory organs such as the eyes and 2 long antennae. The American lobster also has five pairs of legs: the first pair is modified into huge claws and the remaining four pairs are walking legs. Like people, lobsters develop a preference for using either their right or left claw, and over time the preferred claw grows larger and stronger than the other. The larger claw is called the crushing claw and is used to crush prey and in fights against other lobsters. The smaller claw is called the pincher claw and is primarily used to catch food. Lobsters use their walking legs to walk along the sea floor, but often “swim” backwards using their tail when threatened. The American lobster lives in cold waters off the northern Atlantic coast. They typically inhabit shallow water areas with rocky bottoms but may also occupy deeper waters to depths over a thousand feet. Lobsters are fairly cryptic animals and spend most of the day hiding in crevices, under rocks or within burrows they dug from the sand. As night sets in, the lobsters emerge from their daytime hiding places to search for food. Some preferred meals of the American lobster include crabs, sea stars, mollusks, sea urchins, fish and sometimes other lobsters! Lobstering is a huge industry in New England. On vacation to the Atlantic seashore, you will be hard-pressed to find a stretch of road without a local restaurant boasting its fresh catch of lobster. This delicious meal is usually prepared by boiling or steaming the lobster. After cooking the dull, greenish brown shell becomes a brilliant reddish color, and the best meat of a lobster is found in the tail and the larger crushing claw.

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