American Lobster

Hello there. My name is the American Lobster. I live in both shallow and deep parts of the cool ocean, with a preference for shallower waters. The big Atlantic Ocean is my home. I like to live on the rocky sea floor. It is my special neighborhood. I can hide between the big rocks. I can hide in little caves, too. I have a hard, dark shell that keeps me safe, like my own suit of armor. I also have long feelers on my head. They are called antennae. I use my antennae to touch things and smell yummy snacks in the water.

Do you see my big, strong claws? They are very special. I have two, and they are not the same. One claw is very big and bumpy. It is my crusher claw. I use it to go CRUNCH on hard shells. My other claw is smaller and sharp. That is my pincher claw. It helps me hold my food so I can eat it all up. My shell is strong, but sometimes it gets too small for me. When I get bigger, I have to take it off. Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, and I am out. Then I grow a new, bigger shell. This is called molting. I do it many times when I am growing up.

I have a very important job in the ocean. American lobsters are not known to engage in cleaning symbiosis. I walk all around the bottom of the ocean. I am an opportunistic feeder and scavenger, consuming dead animals and organic matter. This helps keep my home on the ocean floor neat and tidy. It is good for everyone. When I keep my home clean, I help all my neighbors, like the fish and the crabs, stay healthy and happy. A clean ocean is a happy ocean for everyone, and that is my special job every single day.