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Lobster

Page history last edited by Adam G 10 years ago

Lobster

By Adam Goldfarb

Description

Lobsters are crustaceans. They are invertebrates with rock-hard shells that scurry along the mucky sands of the reef. They have large, strong claws which pose as a threat to many sea creatures. One claw is called the Crusher Claw, which is used for offensive attacks, and the Pincher Claw is used for defending itself. Lobsters have eight slim legs that are capable of holding it's body up off the ground. They have antennae near their faces, which are mainly used as sensors and can smell their prey. They also have a hard exoskeleton, which protect the lobster's insides. Within growth, lobsters go through a process call Ecdysis (or moulting). This is the process of the creation of a new shell. It is what happens when a lobster grows out of its shell, and needs a new one for protection. They can be blue, light yellow, greenish-brown, grey, dusty orange, some calico, and some with spots. They only turn red when they hit hot water, since the water cuts a red substance in its shell called astaxanthin.

Habitat

Lobsters are found in all oceans. They live in and about sea weeds or in rocky areas that provide food and protection from predators. They mainly live along the Continental Shelf, which can reach a depth of approximatively 460 feet. Adolescent lobsters tend to dominate costal habitats and shores, whereas larger adult lobsters live in deeper waters, though they seasonally return to the shallows.

Predator Adaptions

The claws of a lobster are meant to crush its prey rather than slice them in half. They are capable of breaking a human finger. They need their claws to crush the exoskeletons of the invertebrates they eat. They eat sea creatures such as crabs, clams, Purple Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers and other fish. They sometimes resort to cannibalism when necessary as well.

Prey Adaptions

While along the bottom of the sandy, mucky shores of the Continental Shelf, lobsters are threatened by a number of predators (such as the flounder, sculpins, wolffish, eels, rock gunnels, crabs and seals). Their greatest threat are human beings. Lobsters are known as delicious delicacies throughout the entire world. Though they can't do much against us, they have prey adaptions which protect themselves from many other predators. They have rock-hard exoskeletons to protect them. They are vulnerable during their moulting process, so they tend to live under rocks and in secluded areas. Their exoskeleton's colour and texture can be used as camouflage in some cases, as well.

Symbiotic Interactions

The microscopic Symbion Pandora has a commensal symbiotic relationship with a lobster. The Symbion Pandora attaches itself to the mouthparts of lobsters, and makes itself at home. It is able to eat the bits of leftover food that the lobsters have eaten and it is safe from predators. The lobster, however, remains unaffected. This symbiotic relationship closely resembles the relationship between sharks and Remoras.

Species Comparison: Horseshoe Crab

Similarities

Both the horseshoe crab and the lobster are arthropods, which means they both have solid exoskeletons, a segmented body and joined limbs. They both come from the crustacean family, and they both have strong claws. Both these creatures go through a moulting process as well.

Differences

These two sea creatures have their differences as well. Their anatomy is different in general; a horseshoe crab has a protective, horseshoe-like shell on its back, a long tail and it doesn't have large claws like a Lobster. Lobsters only have two eyes, yet horseshoe crabs have nine.