Common Lobster Homarus gammarus

With the striking thick-plated, yellow-spotted, dark blue exoskeleton and long scarlet antennae, the common lobster is rather remarkable. It also has a broad fan tail for use while balancing and large claws to cut and crush. This salient fellow can be found in shallow coastal waters all around the UK coastline.

Conservation status in Norfolk

The common lobster has been severely overexploited commercially in our waters and its numbers have been greatly reduced.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

It is probably best to avoid eating this animal if it has been fished in UK waters and to highlight its plight to friend, family and at school or work. You can also lend your support to the Wildlife Trusts living seas marine conservation programme

Adopt me today and help ensure my future!

Dawn Watson

Information on the Common Lobster

How to recognise

The common lobster is a striking creature with a thick plated exoskeleton and long red antennae. The exoskeleton is dark blue with yellow spots on its upper surface and tends to be yellowish in colour on its underside. The abdomen of this species is long and terminates in a broad tail fan used for locomotion and balance. It possesses two large claws which are distinct in shape and function. One (normally the right one) is larger and used for crushing whilst the other is more serrated and is used for cutting food. The body length of the common lobster can grow to as much as 75cm but is rarely seen in excess of 30cm.

Where to see

The common lobster can be found in shallow coastal or deeper offshore water all around the UK coast. This species lives singly in holes in rocks or it often excavates burrows in soft material. Lobsters tend to come out at night to feed although they can also be seen out and about during daylight hours in deeper waters.

When to see

The Common Lobster can be seen all year round.

Did you know?

Lobsters are one of the only known species that do not die from the aging process. Lobsters do not slow down, weaken or lose fertility with age. The explanation is believed to be due to the presence of the enzyme telomerase, which repairs DNA sequences. In theory they could live indefinitely but die due to disease, fishing, being preyed upon and other factors.

Finding out more

Arkive

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