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'''Lobsters''', like [[insect]]s, are [[arthropod]]s. Their sub-phylum is called Crustacea, because they have a shell. However, their [[nervous system]] is very like that of insects, and [[Maine]] lobster fishermen call them ‘bugs’.  Lobsters known from [[fossil]]s, which evolutionists mistakenly insist are 150 million years old, are so similar to today’s lobsters that if one was served for dinner you would not notice the difference.<ref name="corson">The Secret Life of Lobsters, by Trevor Corson, pub. Harper Perennial 2005, ISBN 0060555580</ref>

'''Lobsters''', like [[insect]]s, are [[arthropod]]s. Their sub-phylum is called Crustacea, because they have a shell. However, their [[nervous system]] is very like that of insects, and [[Maine]] lobster fishermen call them ‘bugs’.  Lobsters known from [[fossil]]s, which evolutionists mistakenly insist are 150 million years old, are so similar to today's lobsters that if one was served for dinner you would not notice the difference.<ref name="corson">The Secret Life of Lobsters, by Trevor Corson, pub. Harper Perennial 2005, ISBN 0060555580</ref>

The best-known lobster is ''Homarus americanus'', but there are about fifty species. Some of them have interesting and unusual names, such as the hunchback locust lobster, the velvet fan lobster, the regal slipper lobster, the marbled mitten lobster, the musical furry lobster, the unicorn lobster, the buffalo blunt-horn lobster, the African spear lobster, the Arabian whip lobster and the rough Spanish lobster.  

The best-known lobster is ''Homarus americanus'', but there are about fifty species. Some of them have interesting and unusual names, such as the hunchback locust lobster, the velvet fan lobster, the regal slipper lobster, the marbled mitten lobster, the musical furry lobster, the unicorn lobster, the buffalo blunt-horn lobster, the African spear lobster, the Arabian whip lobster and the rough Spanish lobster.  

Lobsters have sensitive touch receptors – two long [[antennae]] and thousands of minute hairs that protrude through the shells of their claws and legs, which detect the movement of water currents around them. They use their [[gills]] to draw water from around their body into the gill chambers and then expel it forward either side of the head, up to seven body lengths in front. They can also use their mouthparts to direct water to their own faces. Like houseflies, lobsters also taste with their feet.

Lobsters have sensitive touch receptors – two long [[antennae]] and thousands of minute hairs that protrude through the shells of their claws and legs, which detect the movement of water currents around them. They use their [[gills]] to draw water from around their body into the gill chambers and then expel it forward either side of the head, up to seven body lengths in front. They can also use their mouthparts to direct water to their own faces. Like houseflies, lobsters also taste with their feet.

A lobster’s most acute sense is its sense of smell. A smaller pair of two-pronged antennae, called [[antennule]]s, contains hundreds of [[chemical receptor]]s that give lobsters most of their hunting and socializing skills. A lobster’s brain consists of several [[nerve ganglion]]s strung together, and nearly half of their volume is dedicated to processing the signals from the antennules. Lobsters use their sense of smell to identify each other as individuals as well as to pick up pheromonal signals and track down food.

A lobster's most acute sense is its sense of smell. A smaller pair of two-pronged antennae, called [[antennule]]s, contains hundreds of [[chemical receptor]]s that give lobsters most of their hunting and socializing skills. A lobster's brain consists of several [[nerve ganglion]]s strung together, and nearly half of their volume is dedicated to processing the signals from the antennules. Lobsters use their sense of smell to identify each other as individuals as well as to pick up pheromonal signals and track down food.

American lobsters’ bladders are in their heads, and they urinate directly in front of their faces. This stream of urine mixes with the outflow from the gill chambers and is carried ahead of the lobster. Thus, lobsters literally have urinating competitions. They send messages by urinating in each other’s faces. The urine of a dominant male lobster exudes a level of confidence that is deeply attractive to female lobsters.<ref name="corson" />

American lobsters’ bladders are in their heads, and they urinate directly in front of their faces. This stream of urine mixes with the outflow from the gill chambers and is carried ahead of the lobster. Thus, lobsters literally have urinating competitions. They send messages by urinating in each other's faces. The urine of a dominant male lobster exudes a level of confidence that is deeply attractive to female lobsters.<ref name="corson" />

==Moulting==

==Moulting==

A lobster’s shell is its [[exoskeleton]]. To grow, a lobster must shed its [[shell]], risking predation while a new shell grows. Lobsters do this 25 times in the first five years of life, gaining up to 15% in body length and 50% in volume each time. After this, moulting is usually only twice a year. Adult lobsters moult no more than annually, and less as they grow larger. It is, however, hard to tell the age of a lobster, as they are [[invertebrate]]s and thus have no internal skeleton to keep a record of growth.

A lobster's shell is its [[exoskeleton]]. To grow, a lobster must shed its [[shell]], risking predation while a new shell grows. Lobsters do this 25 times in the first five years of life, gaining up to 15% in body length and 50% in volume each time. After this, moulting is usually only twice a year. Adult lobsters moult no more than annually, and less as they grow larger. It is, however, hard to tell the age of a lobster, as they are [[invertebrate]]s and thus have no internal skeleton to keep a record of growth.

The outer layer of the shell is a mixture of [[protein]]s, [[lipid]]s and [[calcium]] salts. Underneath is a mixed layer of protein and chitin, the same [[chitin]] that forms the exoskeletons of insects and some [[arachnid]]s, like [[scorpions]]. The third layer has a stiff calcified outer portion and a softer inner portion. Under this is a [[membrane]], and finally the lobster’s skin.

The outer layer of the shell is a mixture of [[protein]]s, [[lipid]]s and [[calcium]] salts. Underneath is a mixed layer of protein and chitin, the same [[chitin]] that forms the exoskeletons of insects and some [[arachnid]]s, like [[scorpions]]. The third layer has a stiff calcified outer portion and a softer inner portion. Under this is a [[membrane]], and finally the lobster's skin.

To prevent a continual cycle of moulting and shell regrowth, glands in lobsters’ eyestalks release a hormone that inhibits moulting. The hormone is controlled by factors such as water temperature and day length. Cutting off a lobster’s eyes causes it to moult almost immediately (as well as bump into things a lot).

To prevent a continual cycle of moulting and shell regrowth, glands in lobsters’ eyestalks release a hormone that inhibits moulting. The hormone is controlled by factors such as water temperature and day length. Cutting off a lobster's eyes causes it to moult almost immediately (as well as bump into things a lot).

Before moulting, the lobster’s skin cells enlarge and secrete the beginning of a new shell under the old one, and calcium accumulates in reservoirs called [[gastrolith]]s on either side of the stomach. During moulting, the lobster pumps sea water into its shell and distributes it around its body so that [[hydrostatic pressure]] forces the old shell away from the new one.  

Before moulting, the lobster's skin cells enlarge and secrete the beginning of a new shell under the old one, and calcium accumulates in reservoirs called [[gastrolith]]s on either side of the stomach. During moulting, the lobster pumps sea water into its shell and distributes it around its body so that [[hydrostatic pressure]] forces the old shell away from the new one.  

When the lining membrane bursts, the lobster is helpless for twenty minutes, and then must detach itself from its old shell. This is easier said than done. It must lose the mass of muscle in its great claws, or it cannot pull them through the shell around its wrists. Because the teeth inside its stomach that grind its food are part of the exoskeleton, the lobster must pull out the lining of its [[throat]], [[stomach]] and anus before it can be free of the old shell. Not all lobsters survive moulting.  

When the lining membrane bursts, the lobster is helpless for twenty minutes, and then must detach itself from its old shell. This is easier said than done. It must lose the mass of muscle in its great claws, or it cannot pull them through the shell around its wrists. Because the teeth inside its stomach that grind its food are part of the exoskeleton, the lobster must pull out the lining of its [[throat]], [[stomach]] and anus before it can be free of the old shell. Not all lobsters survive moulting.  

The reproductive cycle begins when the female sheds her old shell. This enables her to mate between moults and carry the eggs until they hatch before she sheds her shell again. She has to do this, because the eggs are attached to the shell and would be lost if shed before hatching.

The reproductive cycle begins when the female sheds her old shell. This enables her to mate between moults and carry the eggs until they hatch before she sheds her shell again. She has to do this, because the eggs are attached to the shell and would be lost if shed before hatching.

Most of the time, male and female lobsters are hostile to each other. If they detect each other’s scents in the water with their antennules, they will attack. However, when female lobsters shed their shells they release a sex [[pheromone]] that male lobsters find strangely arousing. In fact, as smell and taste underwater are both ways of detecting chemical molecules, the male lobster could be said to taste the female as much as smell her during this time.

Most of the time, male and female lobsters are hostile to each other. If they detect each other's scents in the water with their antennules, they will attack. However, when female lobsters shed their shells they release a sex [[pheromone]] that male lobsters find strangely arousing. In fact, as smell and taste underwater are both ways of detecting chemical molecules, the male lobster could be said to taste the female as much as smell her during this time.

==Egg hatching==

==Egg hatching==

As females age, they become more adept at mating and at making eggs. Unlike human females. older and larger female lobsters produce more eggs than younger – around fifty thousand at a time. It used to be thought that because mating occurs during moulting and large females moult less often than small females, the less frequent spawning cancelled out the advantage of the extra eggs. However, later research showed that older females have larger seminal receptacles that effectively function as a sperm bank, so that from one mating an older female can produce and fertilize two batches of eggs without moulting or mating again, so they only need a mate once every four or five years in order to outbreed their younger rivals.

As females age, they become more adept at mating and at making eggs. Unlike human females. older and larger female lobsters produce more eggs than younger – around fifty thousand at a time. It used to be thought that because mating occurs during moulting and large females moult less often than small females, the less frequent spawning cancelled out the advantage of the extra eggs. However, later research showed that older females have larger seminal receptacles that effectively function as a sperm bank, so that from one mating an older female can produce and fertilize two batches of eggs without moulting or mating again, so they only need a mate once every four or five years in order to outbreed their younger rivals.

Lobster eggs develop for nine or ten months inside the female’s [[ovaries]]. Then she finds a secluded spot, lies on her back, folds her tail to create a pouch, and squirts the eggs out through a pair of ducts. At the same time, she opens her seminal receptacle, and fertilizes the eggs she has stored since mating. She attaches the eggs to the underside of her tail with adhesive from glands on her swimmerets, and carries them around for another ten months’ development before they hatch, when she releases them.<ref name="corson" />

Lobster eggs develop for nine or ten months inside the female's [[ovaries]]. Then she finds a secluded spot, lies on her back, folds her tail to create a pouch, and squirts the eggs out through a pair of ducts. At the same time, she opens her seminal receptacle, and fertilizes the eggs she has stored since mating. She attaches the eggs to the underside of her tail with adhesive from glands on her swimmerets, and carries them around for another ten months’ development before they hatch, when she releases them.<ref name="corson" />

==Claws==

==Claws==

==Fighting==

==Fighting==

When lobsters fight, they first shove each other with their claws and then grasp each other’s crushing claws and squeeze. After fifteen or twenty seconds, the weaker lobster will usually try and retreat, and the winner releases it. A losing lobster may be spared if it is sufficiently submissive, but might still be hacked to death.

When lobsters fight, they first shove each other with their claws and then grasp each other's crushing claws and squeeze. After fifteen or twenty seconds, the weaker lobster will usually try and retreat, and the winner releases it. A losing lobster may be spared if it is sufficiently submissive, but might still be hacked to death.

If squeezing isn’t enough to settle the matter, the claws are used to attack the other’s antennae, legs, claws or eyes. A lobster gripped by another lobster can jettison its own limb by using a special muscle at its base. This is a protective mechanism, because lobsters’ blood flows through their body cavities rather than through veins, so a leak in their shells can cause it to bleed to death unless it is sealed off. Also, although lobsters are not usually cannibals, the scent of an injured lobster’s blood can drive other lobsters to kill and eat it. Fortunately, lobsters can regenerate legs, antennae and claws, though not eyes – although sometimes other appendages can appear in the eye’s place.<ref name="corson" />

If squeezing isn't enough to settle the matter, the claws are used to attack the other's antennae, legs, claws or eyes. A lobster gripped by another lobster can jettison its own limb by using a special muscle at its base. This is a protective mechanism, because lobsters’ blood flows through their body cavities rather than through veins, so a leak in their shells can cause it to bleed to death unless it is sealed off. Also, although lobsters are not usually cannibals, the scent of an injured lobster's blood can drive other lobsters to kill and eat it. Fortunately, lobsters can regenerate legs, antennae and claws, though not eyes – although sometimes other appendages can appear in the eye's place.<ref name="corson" />

==Choice of environment==

==Choice of environment==

==Fishing==

==Fishing==

Lobster fishing has thrived in the Gulf of Maine in the last century or so, largely because of the over-fishing of cod, the main predator of young lobsters in the past. Many laws govern lobstering in the State of Maine, home of the world’s largest lobster fishing industry. Fishermen and scientists have co-operated to preserve the stocks in recent years, by mandating minimum and maximum sizes of catch, and the preservation of egg-laying females. Lobsters take seven years to reach sexual maturity, so the size regulations preserve immature lobsters and protect the breeding stock. Breeding females have a notch cut out of their tail flippers, which makes them illegal to sell even if they are not carrying eggs when caught.<ref name="corson" />

Lobster fishing has thrived in the Gulf of Maine in the last century or so, largely because of the over-fishing of cod, the main predator of young lobsters in the past. Many laws govern lobstering in the State of Maine, home of the world's largest lobster fishing industry. Fishermen and scientists have co-operated to preserve the stocks in recent years, by mandating minimum and maximum sizes of catch, and the preservation of egg-laying females. Lobsters take seven years to reach sexual maturity, so the size regulations preserve immature lobsters and protect the breeding stock. Breeding females have a notch cut out of their tail flippers, which makes them illegal to sell even if they are not carrying eggs when caught.<ref name="corson" />

==Avoiding sick neighbors==

==Avoiding sick neighbors==