European Lobster 

Besides helping to provide locomotion, protection, and support, the asymmetrically shaped claws of the European lobster manipulate food. Sometimes the lobster attaches other smaller marine animals, such as tube-building worms and barnacles, to its hard outer shell, or exoskeleton.

Dorling Kindersley

Spiny Lobster

The spiny lobster, seen sitting at the entrance of a shallow cave, has a smaller body than its cousin, the true or Maine lobster, and lacks the enormous pincers at the ends of the chelipeds, or first pair of legs. The spiny lobster makes a remarkable annual migration, in which large numbers of individuals move in single file across the deep-sea floor. Although the purpose of the migration is poorly understood, it is thought to be involved with reproduction.

F. Ehrenstrom/Oxford Scientific Films

Rock lobster

Rock or spiny lobsters, sometimes referred to simply as lobsters, lack the enlarged claws of true lobsters. Commercial catches originate largely in the waters off South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, Brazil, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, and the Bahamas. The most important of the commercial lobsters fished off South Africa is the rock lobster Jasus ialandii, shown here. They prefer reefs for shelter, and are found at depths ranging from 5 to 275m (15 to 850 ft).

B. Riegl, Zoology Department/University of Cape Town

Lobster Exoskeleton Dismantle

The exoskeleton of a lobster is divided into a series of segments each of which performs specialized functions. The cephalothorax, consisting of the head and thorax, bears all the limbs used in sensory perception, locomotion, breathing, and the detection and capture of prey. The abdomen is divided into six segments that are responsible for rapid locomotion.

Dorling Kindersley