๐ฆ American Lobster (Homarus americanus)
๐ Common Names:
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American Lobster
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Maine Lobster
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Northern Lobster
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True Lobster
๐ Habitat & Distribution
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Native to the Northwest Atlantic Ocean
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Found along the eastern coast of North America
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From Labrador (Canada) to North Carolina (USA)
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Most abundant in the cold waters off Maine, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland
๐งฌ Scientific Classification
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Kingdom: Animalia
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Phylum: Arthropoda
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Class: Malacostraca
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Order: Decapoda
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Family: Nephropidae
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Genus: Homarus
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Species: H. americanus
๐ Physical Features
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Length: Up to 60 cm (24 in)
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Weight: Can exceed 20 kg (44 lbs) — largest crustacean in the world
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Color: Usually dark bluish-green to greenish-brown (cooked ones turn red)
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Claws: Two strong claws:
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Crusher claw (larger, rounded) for breaking shells
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Pincer claw (narrower) for cutting and tearing
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๐ง Behavior and Biology
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Solitary and territorial
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Nocturnal scavengers and hunters
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Molt to grow (shed their hard exoskeleton)
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Can regenerate lost claws or legs
๐ฝ️ Diet
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Carnivorous
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Eats:
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Mollusks (clams, mussels)
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Crustaceans
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Worms
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Fish
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Dead animals (scavenger behavior)
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๐ง Lifespan & Reproduction
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Lifespan: Estimated 50+ years (some live over 100 years)
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Sexual maturity: Around 5–8 years
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Female carries thousands of eggs on her underside ("berried female")
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Eggs hatch into planktonic larvae before settling
๐ก️ Predators
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Large fish (e.g., cod, flounder)
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Seals, humans
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Other lobsters (cannibalism in captivity)
⚖️ Economic Importance
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One of the most valuable commercial seafood species in North America
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Lobster fishing is a key industry in:
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Maine (USA)
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Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (Canada)
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๐ก️ Conservation & Sustainability
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Overfishing is a concern
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Regulations in place:
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Size limits
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Releasing egg-bearing females
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Trap limits
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Warming oceans pose a threat to habitat range
๐งพ Fun Facts
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Lobsters taste with their legs
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They can live for weeks out of water if kept cool and moist
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A blue lobster is rare (1 in 2 million), while albino lobsters are extremely rare (1 in 100 million)
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