What the sources say
American LobsterHomarus americanus
Every figure, record and mechanism on the American Lobster profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 35 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
NOAA Fisheries
American Lobster. NOAA Fisheries.
- The page saysA seafloor crustacean with a crusher claw and a ripper claw. Scientists believe some may live to be 100 years old.
- The source says
scientists believe some American lobsters may live to be 100 years old
Note: tagline; claws and seafloor claimed below - The page saysOcean floor of the northwest Atlantic, from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, wherever there is a burrow or crevice for cover.
- The source says
American lobsters are found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Labrador to Cape Hatteras. ... American lobsters live on the ocean floor. ... They can live in a variety of habitats as long as there is a burrow or crevice for cover.
Note: stats.habitat - The page saysOpportunistic omnivore: crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish and macroalgae.
- The source says
Lobsters are opportunistic feeders, feeding on whatever prey is most available, so their diet varies regionally. ... Adults are omnivorous, feeding on crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish, and macroalgae.
Note: stats.diet - The page saysTwo different claws, a crusher for pulverizing shells and a ripper for tearing soft flesh.
- The source says
One claw is a big-toothed crusher claw for pulverizing shells, and the other is a finer-edged ripper claw, resembling a steak knife, for tearing soft flesh.
Note: stats.superpower - The page saysThe American lobster is a crustacean with a large shrimp-like body and 10 legs, and two of those legs end in big claws.
- The source says
American lobster is a crustacean with a large shrimp-like body and 10 legs, two of which are large, strong claws.
- The page saysOne is a big-toothed crusher for pulverizing shells. The other is a finer-edged ripper, resembling a steak knife, for tearing soft flesh.
- The source says
One claw is a big-toothed crusher claw for pulverizing shells, and the other is a finer-edged ripper claw, resembling a steak knife, for tearing soft flesh.
- The page saysthey can weigh up to 44 pounds, roughly 20 kg.
- The source says
They can weigh up to 44 pounds.
Note: 20 kg from 44 lb (19.96 kg) - The page saysLive lobsters are mostly olive-green or greenish-brown
- The source says
Live lobsters are not red like those you see in a restaurant or grocery store, after they have been cooked. Most are either olive-green or greenish-brown.
Note: pigment clause claimed separately from ADW - The page saysEach time it outgrows its shell, it slides out and forms a new one.
- The source says
Lobsters must periodically molt in order to grow, shedding their hard, external skeleton (shell) when they grow too large for it and forming a new one.
- The page saysA lobster's skeleton is on the outside, and it must shed it in order to grow.
- The source says
Lobsters must periodically molt in order to grow, shedding their hard, external skeleton (shell) when they grow too large for it and forming a new one.
- The page saysit often devours its own vacated shell, which replenishes lost calcium and helps harden the new one.
- The source says
They eat voraciously after they molt, often devouring their own recently vacated shells. Eating their shell replenishes lost calcium and helps harden their new shell.
- The page saysA lobster molts about 20 to 25 times over 5 to 8 years between hatching and being able to reproduce.
- The source says
Lobsters molt about 20 to 25 times over a period of 5 to 8 years between the time they hatch and when they are able to reproduce and reach the minimum legal size to be harvested.
- The page saysShedding the shell also leaves no evidence of age, so an exact age is difficult to determine.
- The source says
It’s difficult to determine their exact age because they shed their hard shell when they molt, leaving no evidence of age.
- The page saysNOAA says lobsters have a long life span and scientists believe some may live to be 100 years old.
- The source says
American lobsters have a long life span. ... But scientists believe some American lobsters may live to be 100 years old.
- The page saysAmerican lobsters live in the northwest Atlantic, from Labrador down to Cape Hatteras. They are most abundant in coastal waters from Maine through New Jersey, and they are also common offshore, to depths of 2,300 feet, from Maine through North Carolina.
- The source says
American lobsters are found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Labrador to Cape Hatteras. They’re most abundant in coastal waters from Maine through New Jersey, and are also common offshore to depths of 2,300 feet from Maine through North Carolina.
- The page saysThey live on the seafloor, alone, and they are very territorial. They can live in a variety of habitats as long as there is a burrow or crevice for cover.
- The source says
American lobsters live on the ocean floor. They live alone and are very territorial. They can live in a variety of habitats as long as there is a burrow or crevice for cover.
- The page saysAdults are omnivores and eat whatever is most available, including crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish and macroalgae (seaweeds).
- The source says
Lobsters are opportunistic feeders, feeding on whatever prey is most available, so their diet varies regionally. ... Adults are omnivorous, feeding on crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish, and macroalgae.
- The page saysYoung lobsters are especially vulnerable to predators, and fish, sharks, rays, skates, octopuses and crabs feed on lobsters.
- The source says
a variety of bottom-dwelling species feed on lobster, including fish, sharks, rays, skates, octopuses, and crabs. Young lobsters are especially vulnerable to predators.
- The page saysLarge, hard-shelled lobsters may be immune to predators, except humans.
- The source says
Large, hard-shelled lobsters may be immune to predators (except humans).
- The page saysIt is hard to say. Molting throws away the hard shell, and with it any evidence of age, which makes an exact age difficult to determine. Even so, NOAA says scientists believe some may reach 100 years old.
- The source says
It’s difficult to determine their exact age because they shed their hard shell when they molt, leaving no evidence of age. But scientists believe some American lobsters may live to be 100 years old.
Note: FAQ 1 - The page saysNo. NOAA says most are olive-green or greenish-brown, and some carry orange, reddish, dark green or black speckles. The red of a restaurant lobster appears once it has been cooked.
- The source says
Live lobsters are not red like those you see in a restaurant or grocery store, after they have been cooked. Most are either olive-green or greenish-brown. Some have orange, reddish, dark green, or black speckles
Note: FAQ 2 - The page saysNOAA Fisheries says American lobsters can weigh up to 44 pounds. That is about 20 kg.
- The source says
They can weigh up to 44 pounds
Note: 20 kg from 44 lb (19.96 kg) - The page saysAn American lobster's claws split the work: one is a crusher for pulverizing shells, the other a finer-edged ripper for tearing soft flesh.
- The source says
One claw is a big-toothed crusher claw for pulverizing shells, and the other is a finer-edged ripper claw, resembling a steak knife, for tearing soft flesh.
- The page saystags: omnivore
- The source says
Adults are omnivorous, feeding on crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea stars, fish, and macroalgae.
Source
02
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Homarus americanus (American lobster). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysA lobster of the size commonly caught is about 25 cm long and weighs about 0.5 kg.
- The source says
the size of a lobster which is commonly caught is approximately 25 cm in length and weighs about 0.5 kg
- The page saysWhile the new shell hardens, the lobster stays in seclusion to avoid predators.
- The source says
The new shell is already covering its body but takes a few days to harden. During this period the lobster stays in seclusion to avoid predators.
- The page saysThey stay among the rocks by day and venture out at night to look for food.
- The source says
Individuals stay among the rocks during the day to avoid predators (mainly cod) and venture out at night in search for food.
- The page saysAnimal Diversity Web adds that a lobster is usually a scavenger, though it can capture its own prey.
- The source says
It is usually a scavenger, feeding on dead animals, but is also capable of capturing its own prey.
- The page saysIts antennules, feelers on the head, carry more than 400 types of chemoreceptors, the sensors that detect chemicals. Lobsters use them to sense other species, potential mates, prey and predators.
- The source says
The second segment of the head has anntenules with delicate hairs that have more than 400 types of chemoreceptors. The lobsters can detect other species, potential mates, prey and predators with the receptors.
- The page saysthe red comes after cooking, when pigments in the shell break down.
- The source says
The red color results when a lobster is boiled and is a result of pigments in the shell breaking down.
Note: body pigment clause; ADW says boiled - The page saystags: nocturnal
- The source says
Individuals stay among the rocks during the day to avoid predators (mainly cod) and venture out at night in search for food.
- The page saystags: scavenger
- The source says
It is usually a scavenger, feeding on dead animals, but is also capable of capturing its own prey.
- The page saysdangerLevel: Low
- The source says
There are no negative consequences for humans by the lobster.
Source
03
Wahle et al. 2009
Wahle et al. (2009). Homarus americanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T170009A6705155.
- The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern.
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
Note: GBIF check goes here, not cited
Source
04
Lang et al. 1977
Lang et al. (1977). Developmental Neuroethology: Changes in Escape and Defensive Behavior During Growth of the Lobster. Science.
- The page saysA 1977 study found that in larval and early juvenile stages, physiological and morphological factors favor the escape response over defense. In large animals, defensive behavior is preferred almost exclusively, unless the claws are lost.
- The source says
In larval and early juvenile stages, physiological and morphological factors favor use of the escape response over defensive behavior. In large animals, defensive behavior is preferred almost exclusively to escape behavior unless the claws are lost.
Note: 1977 is the reference year (Lang et al. 1977, Science)
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.