Lobster
Lobsters are large crustaceans with a hard shell that live on the sea floor. They grow by molting, which means shedding the old shell and growing a new one.
Key numbers
American lobster (Homarus americanus)
| Length | 0.3–1.1 m (1–4 ft)(animaldiversity.org) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1–20 kg (1–44 lb)(fisheries.noaa.gov) |
| Lifespan (wild) | up to about 100 years (estimated)(fisheries.noaa.gov) |
| Diet | Young lobsters eat tiny drifting animals called zooplankton. Adults eat crabs, shellfish, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish and seaweed, depending on where they live.(fisheries.noaa.gov) |
| Habitat | Ocean: Northwest Atlantic from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; most common in coastal waters from Maine to New Jersey.(fisheries.noaa.gov) |
Our full lobster profile is on the way. Meanwhile, see it next to a person, to scale.