Anatomy and Physiology of the Lobster

            
            
            
            
            
            
            
             Physiological Components .
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
             The mating season for lobsters is usually in the summer, right after the female lobster sheds her shell. The female lobster will approach a male lobster's shelter and release pheromones which will attract and calm the male. After the female lobster is granted access inside the shelter the male turns the female lobster on her back and transfers his sperm cells to the female using his gonads. After the lobsters are done mating the male will put the female back on her legs and the female will stay with the male in the shelter for a few days before the female departs. The female will keep the sperm for up to several months. .
             2. Hatching.
             Eggs are usually laid by the female a year after mating, this means that females can only mate once every two years. The eggs are laid unto the underside of the female's tail and fertilized by the sperm that was stored. The female lobster can lay anywhere from 8,000 to 100,000 eggs depending on how its size. The eggs stay underneath the tail on its swimmerets attached with a sticky substance and remain there for almost a year. .
             It is not uncommon for females to lose up to 50% of her eggs during this period due to disease, parasites and predators. Once the eggs are ready for hatching the female lifts up her abdomen and release thousands of larvae that float to the surface of the water. This usually happens in the summer when the water temperature is high.
             3. Larvae.
             The larvae are very small measuring at only 7-8 mm right after hatching. They resemble a very small shrimp. At this time the larvae only eat plankton and are very vulnerable. During this period the larvae goes through 3 larval stages gaining legs and claws throughout these stages. .
             4. Post Larvae.
             After a few molts which takes place over 4-6 weeks when the lobster has gotten larger it moves down the bottom of the ocean where it looks for hiding spots to live at.