Lobsters are animals that have a tough shell and live on the ocean floor. There are many different types of lobsters, including the Maine (or American) lobster (an aggressive lobster with large front claws), the spiny lobster, and crayfish. Lobsters are invertebrates, animals without a backbone. Lobsters are cold-blooded; their body temperature depends on the temperature of the water.
Anatomy: This crustacean has a hard exoskeleton, 4 pairs of jointed walking legs, a segmented body, sensory antennae, a tail fan, and compound eyes on stalks.
Diet: Lobsters are carnivores (meat-eaters). Most lobsters are nocturnal (most active at night). They are predators that eat crabs, clams, worms, snails, mussels, flounder, and other lobsters.
Life Cycle: The lobster begins its life as a tiny, floating organism, which is a component of plankton. After a month of growing, it sinks to the sea floor, where it will spend most of its time hiding from predators. As a lobster grows, it often molts (loses its old shell and grows a new one). It eats the old shell.
Lobsters continue to grow throughout their lives. The biggest lobster caught weighed over 44 pounds (20 kg). Lobsters may live to be 100 years old.
Predators: Many animals eat lobsters, including fish (especially cod), octopi, other lobsters, and people.
