Blue Lobster Life Cycle
Blue lobsters possess a rare genetic mutation involving an excessive amount of protein that causes their shells to turn cobalt blue. Their life cycle is the same as that of a normal lobster, although the bright color may make them more vulnerable to predation.
Other People Are Reading
-
Eggs
-
A female lobster lays thousands of tiny eggs. The eggs gestate for a total of 20 months, first inside her body, and then attached outside her shell. Out of 50,000 eggs, an average of two survive to adulthood.
Hatching
-
Sea birds After hatching, the lobsters, in larval, bug-like form, float near the water's surface for several weeks. Other sea animals and birds will eat most of the larvae.
-
Post-Larval Lobsters
-
Surviving lobsters drop to the ocean floor to hide among rocks or plants. Their small size makes them vulnerable to predation. The lobsters grow rapidly at this stage of development.
Juvenile Lobsters
-
Lobsters continue to grow and develop for five to seven years. Juveniles are smaller and more sexually immature, but otherwise resemble adults in appearance and behavior.
Adult Lobsters
-
Lobster for dinner Lobsters are sexually active beginning at around seven years. Nocturnal and secretive, they can live to be more than 50 years old, and possibly as old as 100.
Molting
-
To grow, lobsters must shed their hard, protective shells. They molt 25 times before the age of five, then once every year or two throughout their lives.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Justin Henry Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Les Chatfield Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of ilker ender
