Head to head
European Lobster vs Edible Crab
European Lobster
VS Edible Crab
The European lobster and the edible crab are two of the most valuable shellfish caught in pots around Britain and Ireland, and both live on rocky ground.
| European Lobster | Edible Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Homarus gammarus | Cancer pagurus |
| Group | A clawed lobster, with a long body and a tail | A true crab, with a broad shell and a tucked-under tail |
| Shell | A mottled blue-black body that turns red when cooked | A broad, reddish-brown shell with a neatly scalloped edge, like the crimped edge of a pie crust |
| Claws | One heavy crusher claw and one slimmer cutter claw | A pair of large claws with black tips, used to crush shells and defend itself |
| Diet | Crabs, molluscs, sea urchins, starfish, and worms | Mussels, whelks, other molluscs, and smaller crabs, which it cracks open with its claws |
| Eggs | The female carries her fertilised eggs under her tail for many months until they hatch | Egg-carrying females travel long distances offshore to deeper water, where they release their larvae |
| Young | Tiny larvae drift in the plankton after hatching | Juveniles shelter in rock pools and under stones on the shore before moving into deeper water as they grow |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with local stocks managed by size limits and hatchery releases | Not Evaluated, and caught in pots in large numbers in one of Europe's most important crab fisheries |
European Lobster vs Edible Crab: common questions
Which one grows larger?
The edible crab can reach around 25 cm across the shell, while the European lobster is a long-bodied animal that can live for several decades.
Why is the edible crab shell called pie-crust?
Its broad, reddish-brown shell has a neatly scalloped edge, like the crimped edge of a pie crust.
How are both caught?
Both are caught in baited pots, which are set on the seabed and hauled up with the shellfish inside.