American Lobster: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Rivers and Coasts · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. A lobster sheds its shell up to 27 times before market size. Each molt can boost its weight by 40-50 %.
2. A lobster's small front antennae split into Y-shaped tips covered in odour-sensing hairs. With two, it can tell which way a smell comes from.
3. Females mate only just after shedding their shell, while it is still soft. They can store sperm for up to 15 months.
4. A mother lobster carries her eggs under her tail for 10 to 11 months, cleaning them and fanning them with water.
5. Only about 10 % of lobsters that encounter a trap actually go in. Of those, roughly 6 % are retained.

The quiz

1. How many times can a lobster shed its shell before market size?

• Up to 3 times
• Up to 100 times
• Up to 27 times (correct)
• Only once

Lobsters shed their shell up to 27 times before market size.

2. What does a lobster use its front antennae for?

• Smelling (correct)
• Hearing only
• Digging
• Cutting food

Hairs on its Y-shaped antenna tips detect odours, helping it find which way a smell comes from.

3. How long can a female lobster store sperm?

• Up to 48 hours
• Up to 2 weeks
• Up to 6 months
• Up to 15 months (correct)

Females can store sperm for up to 15 months.

4. How long does a mother lobster carry her eggs?

• About 3 days
• 10 to 11 months (correct)
• About 2 weeks
• About 5 years

She carries her eggs for 10 to 11 months, cleaning and fanning them.

5. About what share of lobsters that encounter a trap actually enter it?

• About 50 %
• About 25 %
• About 10 % (correct)
• About 90 %

Only about 10 % of lobsters that encounter a trap actually enter.

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