Head to head
European Spiny Lobster vs European Lobster
European Spiny Lobster
VS European Lobster
The European spiny lobster and the European lobster share rocky seabeds around Britain, Ireland, and western Europe, and both are valued shellfish, but they belong to different families.
| European Spiny Lobster | European Lobster | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Palinurus elephas | Homarus gammarus |
| Family | A spiny lobster, with no large pincer claws | A true clawed lobster |
| Defence | Two very long, thick, spiny antennae, and a rasping sound made by rubbing the antennae base against its shell | One heavy crusher claw for smashing shells and one slimmer cutter claw for tearing food |
| Colour | Reddish-brown to purplish in life, with pale spots on the tail | Mottled blue-black in life, turning red when cooked |
| Size | Reaches about 40 to 50 cm in length | A large animal that grows slowly and can live for several decades |
| Larvae | Hatches as a flat, transparent, leaf-like larva called a phyllosoma that drifts in the plankton for months | The female carries her fertilised eggs under her tail for many months until they hatch into tiny larvae |
| Diet | Sea urchins, mussels, snails, crabs, and other crustaceans found on rocky ground at night | Crabs, molluscs, sea urchins, starfish, and worms, crushed and cut with its claws |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable, because overfishing has reduced stocks in much of its range | Least Concern, with local stocks managed by size limits and protected areas |
European Spiny Lobster vs European Lobster: common questions
How can you tell a spiny lobster from a lobster?
The spiny lobster has no large pincer claws and very long, spiny antennae, whereas the European lobster has a heavy crusher claw and a slimmer cutter claw.
Which one makes a noise?
The spiny lobster, which can make a rasping sound by rubbing the base of its antennae against its shell.
Which one is more threatened?
The European spiny lobster, which is Vulnerable after heavy overfishing, while the European lobster is Least Concern.