Hobbies And Interests

What Eats Lobsters?

Contrary to popular opinion, not all lobster look alike. Clawed lobsters use their large front claws to attack predators, and spiny lobsters, also called rock lobsters, huddle in groups with their spines protecting them from smaller predators looking for an easy meal. A lot of lobsters die when they are vulnerable larvae, but predators have adapted means of getting through their defenses.
  1. Fish

    • Catfish and dogfish eat lobsters that have matured but not reached their full size. Wrasses and codfish, such as the southern rock cod, also eat small lobsters. Flatheads bury themselves in the sand, and when potential prey like lobsters venture near, they strike out and consume the unsuspecting crustaceans. Fully-grown lobsters can fall prey to big fish like groupers, which use their large mouths to suck in spiny lobsters and swallow them whole.

    Other Marine Animals

    • Sting rays and skates eat small crustaceans, while sharks, including gummy sharks and leopard sharks, eat the larger lobsters. Some copepods, such as octopi, use their sharp beaks to access the lobsters' soft underbellies. Large eels, like the conger eel, have powerful jaws and sharp teeth that can snap up lobsters. Occasionally, sea turtles use their sharp beaks and strong jaws to eat lobsters. Crabs may also eat larval lobsters that don't have the claws to defend themselves.

    Human Beings

    • Humans are the biggest threat to lobsters. According to the Department of Marine Resources, Maine fisheries landed more than 93 million lbs of lobster in 2010, worth more than $300 million. Although the clawed lobster is commonly served in restaurants, people eat all lobster types. Humans raise lobsters for food on farms, catch them in lobster traps on the ocean floor, and reel them in with fishing lines. However, the world lobster supply cannot keep up with the demand, so lobster dinners are expensive.

    Miscellaneous

    • When the lobsters are in their larval stage, they resemble plankton and cannot yet sink to the depths of the ocean. Diving birds can see and swallow whole these small, soft lobsters. Lobsters raised in commercial ponds have a nocturnal threat in the form of raccoons. Raccoons use their sharp claws to stun a lobster and tear into the underbelly. They'll then use their teeth to tear out the parts they like to eat.


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