Fauna
Invertebrate

European Lobster

Homarus gammarus

Also known as Common Lobster, Blue Lobster

European lobsters are solitary, nocturnal marine crustaceans renowned for their vivid midnight-blue exoskeletons and massive, asymmetrical claws. They occupy rocky crevices and boulder fields, emerging under cover of darkness to scour the seabed for prey and carrion. Females carry thousands of eggs glued to their swimmerets for up to a year before releasing free-swimming larvae into coastal currents.

MarineCrustaceanNocturnal
European Lobster reference
(c) Bernard Picton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bernard Picton · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyEdible crab, Blue mussel, Common starfish
Predators
  • Atlantic cod
  • European conger
  • Common seal
ThreatsOverfishing, destructive bottom trawling, marine pollution, and habitat disruption
HabitatsRocky seabeds, reefs, boulder fields, and underwater crevices from the lower intertidal down to 150 meters
Life span30–50 years
Classification
  1. FamilyNephropidae
  2. SpeciesHomarus gammarus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Powerful crusher claws can severely injure fingers; avoid handling wild individuals without specialized gear.
Why it is dangerous
The larger crusher claw exerts immense mechanical pressure capable of fracturing bones and causing deep puncture wounds.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Distinguished by an intense dark blue mottled shell, white claw bumps, and two distinct, oversized front claws.
What to do
Never pick up an unrestrained lobster by the front or attempt to pry claws open by hand.
Responsible observation
  • Diving Etiquette: Observe them quietly using dive lights while leaving their rocky crevices undisturbed.
  • Handling Precaution: Keep fingers clear of the large crusher and cutter claws if examining caught specimens.
  • Shell Inspection: Notice the difference between the heavy, rounded crusher claw and the sharper, slender cutter claw.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…