Homarus gammarus

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Homarus gammarus	Common name	Common lobster
MCS Code	S1400	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Crustacea	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Eumalacostraca
Subclass	Eucarida	Order	Decapoda
Suborder	Pleocyemata	Family	Nephropidae
Genus	Homarus	Species	gammarus
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Campbell, 1994, Ulrich et al., 2002, Triantafyllidis et al., 2005
General Biology
Growth form	Articulate	Feeding method	Scavenger, Omnivore
Mobility/Movement	Crawler	Environmental position	Demersal, Epifaunal, Epibenthic
Typical food types	A variety of live molluscs and crustaceans as well as carrion.	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not researched	Flexibility	Low (10-45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Medium-large(21-50cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	3 cm / year (carapace length)
Adult dispersal potential	>10km	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Allen, 1895, Smith et al., 2001, Sheehy et al., 1996, Ingle, 1997, Beal et al., 2002, Mente et al., 2001, Sheehy et al., 1999, Bannister, 1998, Collins et al., 1992, Kurmaly et al., 1990
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in western Europe from Norway and the Shetland Isles south to Morocco, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	LWST to 60 m.
Migratory	Seasonal (reproduction)
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Crevices / fissures, Caves, Large to very large boulders	Physiographic preferences	Enclosed coast / Embayment, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Open coast
Biological zone	Circalittoral Offshore, Lower Circalittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Infralittoral	Wave exposure	Moderately Exposed, Exposed, Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Insufficient information	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
Distribution References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Smith et al., 2001, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Addison & Bannister, 1984, Ingle, 1997, Linnane et al., 2000, Bannister, 1998, Collins et al., 1992
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	June to August	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	Yes
Life span	11-20 years	Age at reproductive maturity	6-10 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	Up to 100,000 or more
Egg/propagule size	ca. 1.5 mm	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential 1km-10km Larval settlement period Insufficinet information Duration of larval stage 11-30 days
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Agnalt, 2008, Bennett & Howard, 1987, Lizarraga-Cubedo et al., 2003, Addison & Bannister, 1984, Free et al., 1992, Hepper & Gough, 1978, Tully et al., 2001, Beal et al., 2002