Check Out These Cool Crustacean Facts

More than just a pair of claws scuttling on the ocean floor, these incredible creatures live fascinating lives. Let’s put our snorkels own and dive into the secret lives of lobsters.

A Surprisingly Long Life Cycle

Lobsters live exceptionally long lives, often exceeding 50 years, with some lobsters even giving humans a run for their money and reaching well over a century. They begin their long lives as larvae, floating with plankton in the ocean where they are vulnerable to predators like fish, other crustaceans, and even birds. Over several weeks, these larvae undergo multiple molts, transforming until they settle on the ocean floor. Here, they find shelter in rocky crevices or burrow into the sediment, continuing to grow until they reach adulthood.

Unlike humans, adult lobsters do not have much to worry about. Their tough exoskeletons severely decrease the threat of predation and in the event that they ever lose a claw, their molting process allows them to regenerate it as if it was never gone. Some research even suggests that lobsters don’t even slow down or weaken with age. Even in the midst of environmental changes, lobsters exhibit resilience; they can survive at a multitude of depths and temperatures with some species of lobster even living at depths of 500 meters.

They’re Up All Night

You might not expect it, but lobsters are the sea’s resident night owls. They are up long after dark, but it’s not because they’re party animals. While other fish are snoozing, these nocturnal creatures emerge from their hiding spots at night to hunt prey and scavenge for food. They have an omnivorous diet consisting of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and ocean plant life. When eating, lobsters depend heavily on the use of their specialized claws: the crusher claw breaks open the shells of crustaceans, while their pincer claw tears apart soft flesh. They’re basically walking around with forks and knives for hands.

Not Afraid to Eat Alone

A lot of us humans hate going to a restaurant alone. However, lobsters are the opposite. In fact, they prefer to dine solo. They are very territorial, often engaging in combat to defend their homes. Despite their solitary, lobsters are able to communicate with one another through a combination of body language and chemical signals. For instance, they release pheromones in their urine to mark territory or indicate readiness to mate.

Mating Call

Speaking of which, mating in lobsters occurs after the female molts, as her soft shell allows for the transfer of sperm. The female then carries the fertilized eggs under her tail for up to a year before they hatch into larvae. As such, lobsters have a lower reproductive rate than many other marine species and carry their young longer than even we humans do.

Looking for Some Lobster for Lunch?

We’ve got the hookups! If you’re in Fernandina Beach or Nocatee, there’s no better place than Timoti’s to enjoy a delicious lobster roll.

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A Day in the Life of a Lobster