Editing Lobster (section)

== Description ==
[[File:Bugre europeu.jpg|thumb|European lobster with cut antennae]]

=== Body ===
{{See also|Decapod anatomy}}
Lobsters are [[invertebrate]]s with a hard protective [[exoskeleton]].<ref name="Quarmby">{{cite journal |author1=R. Quarmby |author2=D.A. Nordens |author3=P.F. Zagalsky |author4=H.J. Ceccaldi |author5=D. Daumas |title=Studies on the quaternary structure of the lobster exoskeleton carotenoprotein, crustacyanin|journal=Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry|date=1977|volume=56|issue=1|pages=55–61|doi=10.1016/0305-0491(77)90222-X |pmid=830471 }}</ref> Like most [[arthropod]]s, lobsters must [[ecdysis|shed]] to grow, which leaves them vulnerable. During the shedding process, several species change color. Lobsters have eight walking legs; the front three pairs bear claws, the first of which are larger than the others. The front pincers are also biologically considered legs, so they belong in the order Decapods ("ten-footed").<ref>{{cite book |editor1=Mark W. Denny |editor2=Steven Dean Gaines |year=2007 |title=Encyclopedia of tidepools and rocky shores |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-25118-2 |first=Carlos |last=Robles |chapter=Lobsters |pages=333–335 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uufQnE7MzMkC&pg=PA333 |access-date=July 27, 2013}}</ref> Although lobsters are largely [[bilateral symmetry|bilaterally symmetrical]] like most other arthropods, some [[Genus|genera]] possess unequal, specialized claws.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

Lobster anatomy includes two main body parts: the [[cephalothorax]] and the [[Abdomen#Arthropoda|abdomen]]. The cephalothorax fuses the head and the [[Thorax (arthropod anatomy)|thorax]], both of which are covered by a [[chitin]]ous [[carapace]]. The lobster's head bears [[Antenna (biology)|antennae]], antennules, [[Mandible (arthropod)|mandibles]], the first and second [[Maxilla (arthropod)|maxillae]]. The head also bears the (usually stalked) [[compound eye]]s. Because lobsters live in murky environments at the bottom of the ocean, they mostly use their antennae as sensors. The lobster eye has a reflective structure above a convex retina. In contrast, most complex eyes use refractive ray concentrators (lenses) and a concave retina.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Land MF |year=1976|title=Superposition images are formed by reflection in the eyes of some oceanic decapod Crustacea|journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]|volume=263|issue=5580|pages=764–765|bibcode=1976Natur.263..764L|doi=10.1038/263764a0|pmid=995187 |s2cid=4215770| issn=0028-0836}}</ref> The lobster's thorax is composed of [[Decapod anatomy|maxillipeds]], appendages that function primarily as mouthparts, and [[Decapod anatomy|pereiopods]], appendages that serve for walking and for gathering food. The abdomen includes [[pleopods]] (also known as ''swimmerets''), used for swimming, as well as the tail fan, composed of [[uropod]]s and the [[telson]].

Lobsters, like snails and spiders, have blue blood due to the presence of [[hemocyanin]], which contains [[copper]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/cda/11-14/biology/copch31pg1.html |title=Copper for life – Vital copper |publisher=[[Association for Science Education]] |access-date=November 20, 2008 |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812175031/http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/cda/11-14/biology/copch31pg1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In contrast, vertebrates, and many other animals have red blood from [[iron]]-rich [[hemoglobin]]. Lobsters possess a green [[hepatopancreas]], called the [[tomalley]] by chefs, which functions as the animal's [[liver]] and [[pancreas]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1039/b314101b |title=Arsenic speciation in marine certified reference materials |year=2004 |author1=Shona Mcsheehy |author2=Zoltán Mester |name-list-style=amp |journal=[[Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry]] |volume=19 |pages=373–380 |issue=3}}</ref>

Lobsters of the family Nephropidae are similar in overall form to several other related groups. They differ from freshwater [[crayfish]] in lacking the joint between the last two segments of the thorax,<ref name="Tshudy">{{cite journal |first=Dale |last=Tshudy |name-list-style=amp |author2=Loren E. Babcock |author2-link=Loren E. Babcock |year=1997 |title=Morphology-based phylogenetic analysis of the clawed lobsters (family Nephropidae and the new family Chilenophoberidae) |journal=[[Journal of Crustacean Biology]] |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=253–263 |jstor=1549275 |bibcode=1997JCBio..17..253T }}</ref> and they differ from the reef lobsters of the family [[Enoplometopidae]] in having full claws on the first three pairs of legs, rather than just one.<ref name="Tshudy" /> The distinctions from fossil families such as the [[Chilenophoberidae]] are based on the pattern of grooves on the carapace.<ref name="Tshudy" />

Analysis of the neural gene complement revealed extraordinary development of the chemosensory machinery, including a profound diversification of ligand-gated ion channels and secretory molecules.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Polinski |first1=Jennifer |title=The American lobster genome reveals insights on longevity, neural, and immune adaptations |journal=Science Advances |date=23 June 2021 |volume=7 |issue=26 |pages=eabe8290 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abe8290 |pmid=34162536 |pmc=8221624 |bibcode=2021SciA....7.8290P }}</ref>

=== Coloring ===
Typically, lobsters are dark colored, either bluish-green or greenish-brown, to blend in with the ocean floor, but they can be found in many colors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/07/07/split-colored-lobster-maine/29830371/|title=Extremely rare split-colored lobster caught off Maine|website=USA Today|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/08/29/rare-ghost-lobster-caught-off-stonington/|title=Rare ghost lobster caught off Stonington|last=Linehanstaff|first=Josh|date=2018-08-29|website=Press Herald|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> Lobsters with atypical coloring are extremely rare, accounting for only a few of the millions caught every year, and due to their rarity, they usually are not eaten, instead being released back into the wild or donated to [[public aquarium|aquariums]]. Often, in cases of atypical coloring, there is a genetic factor, such as [[albinism]] or [[Hermaphrodite|hermaphroditism]]. Special coloring does not appear to affect the lobster's taste once cooked; except for albinos, all lobsters possess astaxanthin, which is responsible for the bright red color lobsters turn after being cooked.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/31483/why-do-crabs-and-lobsters-turn-red-when-you-cook-them|title=Why Do Crabs and Lobsters Turn Red When You Cook Them?|date=2012-08-29|website=mentalfloss.com|access-date=2019-03-25}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Chart of Atypical Coloring in Lobsters
!Color
!Prevalence
!Notes
!Notable specimens
|-
|[[Albinism|albino]]
|1 in 100,000,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/06/white-lobsters-caught/15224451/|title=2 of rarest of all lobsters caught 5 days apart|website=USA Today|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|Also called white; translucent; ghost; crystal.<ref name="Boston.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/animals/2017/09/13/the-rarest-lobster-colors-explained|title=Orange, yellow, blue, and even 'Halloween': The rarest lobster colors, explained|date=2017-09-13|work=Boston.com|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/rare-white-translucent-lobster-caught-maine-fisherman/story?id=49563899|title=Rare white 'translucent' lobster caught by Maine fisherman|date=2017-09-01|website=ABC News|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thisisinsider.com/maine-fisherman-mike-billings-caught-albino-ghost-lobster-2018-8|title=A Maine fisherman caught a rare 'ghost' lobster that's nearly see-through|last=Collman|first=Ashley|website=INSIDER|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|
|-
|"cotton candy"
|1 in 100,000,000<ref name="Farber">{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/science/maine-chef-finds-rare-cotton-candy-colored-lobster-in-tank|title=Maine chef finds rare cotton candy-colored lobster in tank|last=Farber|first=Madeline|date=2018-08-08|website=Fox News|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|Also called pastel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/06/cotton-candy-blue-lobster-rare-animals/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203112646/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/06/cotton-candy-blue-lobster-rare-animals/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2019|title=Why This Rare Lobster Is Colored Like Blue Cotton Candy|date=2018-06-19|website=National Geographic News|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref> Possibly a sub-type of albino.<ref name="Farber"/>
|Haddie (2021, [[Maine]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rare 'cotton candy' Lobster found in Maine |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/11/09/cotton-candy-colored-lobster-maine |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=www.boston.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|blue
|1 in 1,000,000<ref name="NYT_2005-03-15">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/science/yes-its-a-lobster-and-yes-its-blue.html|title=Yes, It's a Lobster, and Yes, It's Blue|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|date=2005-03-15|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-03-11|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> to 1 in 2,000,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/23/blue-lobster-caught/14506607/|title=1-in-2M find: 14-year-old, dad nab blue lobster|website=USA Today|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref><ref name="TheHill" /><ref name="Cape Cod Times" />
|Caused by a genetic defect.<ref name="NYT_2005-03-15" />
|Lord Stanley (2019, Massachusetts)<ref name="TheHill">{{cite news | last=Campisi | first=Jessica | title=One in 2 million blue lobster found in Massachusetts seafood restaurant | website=The Hill | date=2019-06-14 | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/448635-one-in-two-million-blue-lobster-found-in-massachusetts-seafood | access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref><ref name="Cape Cod Times">{{cite news | url = https://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20190612/rare-blue-lobster-found-at-arnolds-in-eastham | title = Rare blue lobster found at Arnold's in Eastham | first=Edward |last=Sutelan | date=June 13, 2019 | access-date = July 6, 2019 | work=[[Cape Cod Times]]}}</ref>(2019, St. Louis)<ref>{{cite web | title=It's official: St. Louis Aquarium rare blue lobster has a name! | date=2019-07-02 | url=https://kplr11.com/2019/07/02/its-official-st-louis-aquarium-rare-blue-lobster-has-a-name/ | access-date=2019-07-07 | first=Aprylete | last=Russell | publisher=[[KPLR-TV]] | archive-date=July 7, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707033213/https://kplr11.com/2019/07/02/its-official-st-louis-aquarium-rare-blue-lobster-has-a-name/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Lucky Blue (2022, [[Maine]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/meet-lucky-blue-one-2-213153294.html|title=Meet 'Lucky Blue': 1-in-2-million bright blue lobster caught by father and son in Maine|date=2022-08-17|website=yahoo.com|access-date=2022-08-17}}</ref>
|-
|calico
|1 in 30,000,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/environment/bs-md-calico-lobster-20190112-story.html|title=Rare 'calico lobster' found at Maryland seafood counter|last=Anderson|first=Jessica|website=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=2019-03-11|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203073735/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/environment/bs-md-calico-lobster-20190112-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|
|Eve (2019, [[Maryland]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtkr.com/2019/01/14/rare-calico-lobster-turns-up-at-maryland-fish-market/|title=Rare calico lobster turns up at Maryland fish market|date=2019-01-15|website=WTKR.com|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|-
|orange
|1 in 30,000,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/06/07/flashy-orange-lobster-is-a-1-in-30-million-rarity/|title=Flashy orange lobster is a 1-in-30-million rarity|agency=Associated Press|date=2018-06-07|website=Press Herald|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|
|Cheddar (2022, [[Florida]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/red-lobster-rescues-rare-orange-lobster-144014250.html|title=1-in-30 million rare lobster spared from steamer after Red Lobster employees discover her in shipment|date=2022-07-13|website=yahoo.com|access-date=2022-07-13}}</ref> Biscuit (2022, [[Mississippi]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/another-rare-orange-lobster-named-biscuit-rescued-from-red-lobster-145052346.html|title=Cheddar, meet Biscuit. Rescue of second 1-in-30-million rare lobster from Red Lobster is raising questions about species 'abnormality.'|date=2022-08-09|website=yahoo.com|access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
|-
|split-colored
|1 in 50,000,000<ref name=":0" />
|Almost all split-coloreds are [[Hermaphrodism|hermaphroditic]].<ref name="Boston.com"/>
|
|-
|"Halloween"
|1 in 50,000,000<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.azula.com/split-colored-lobsters-2538315054.html|title=More Than 1 in 50 Million Lobsters Are Split-Colored Lobsters|date=2018-02-23|website=Azula - For the Love of Oceans|access-date=2019-03-11}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> to 1 in 100,000,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rare-yellow-lobster-genetics-colors-pigments|title=A Rare Yellow Lobster Joins a Boston Aquarium's Lobster Rainbow|last=Kennedy|first=Kelsey|date=2017-09-01|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|Sub-type of split-colored, specifically orange and black.<ref name="natgeo">{{cite web|url=https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/11/01/halloween-lobster-sports-orange-and-black/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610174417/https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/11/01/halloween-lobster-sports-orange-and-black/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2020|title=Halloween Lobster Sports Orange and Black|date=2012-11-01|publisher=[[National Geographic Society]]|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|Pinchy (2012, [[Massachusetts]])<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/10/31/lobster-all-dressed-up-for-halloween-in-orange-and-black|title=Lobster all dressed up for Halloween in orange and black|date=2012-10-31|work=Boston.com|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|-
|red
|1 in 10,000,000<ref name="natgeo" /> to 1 in 30,000,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/07/07/split-colored-lobster-maine/29830371/|title=Extremely rare split-colored lobster caught off Maine|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
|
|
|-
|yellow
|1 in 30,000,000<ref>{{Citation|last=Charns|first=David|title=One in 30 million: Super rare yellow lobster found off Maine coast|date=2018-06-21|url=https://www.wmtw.com/article/one-in-30-million-super-rare-yellow-lobster-found-off-maine-coast/21746153|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref>
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