Demystifying the Miracle of Lobster Egg Retention

1. An adult lobster can lay up to 100,000 eggs, depending on the size of the female. For nine to twelve months, the female carries her fertilized eggs on the outside of her under her tail, attached to her swimmerets. Her eggs are about the size of a rice grain, dark green, and shaped in a way that isn’t even. In Canadian waters, eggs are hatched between June and September, depending on water temperature.

2. After hatching, prelarvae are attached to the female. Soon after, they shed their skins, letting the stage one larvae swim up into the water column, just a few centimeters below the surface. This is the start of stage one of the planktonic larval phase. Because they are clear and about the size of a pea, the larvae are somewhat safe from being eaten.

3. The lobster is about the size of a thumbnail in stages two and three of its planktonic larval phase. At stage three, larvae have a fully developed tail fan. Because the larvae aren’t very good at swimming, wind and water currents control a lot of their movement. In order to grow, all stages of a lobster must molt, which means losing its old, hard shell and putting on a new one.

4. In the postlarval stage, the lobster settles to the bottom of the ocean and finds shelter. Young lobsters like to live near rocks, reefs, or grass beds, where they can stay hidden for their first few years. At this stage, the lobster looks like a smaller version of an adult lobster.

5. In the early bottom phase, lobsters are mostly shelter restricted. Although they have developed the ability to move their tail effectively, their overall movement is limited. As they grow larger they begin to move outside their burrows looking for food.

6. Lobsters reach adulthood within five to seven years, depending on water temperature. They spend most of their time alone in their shelters. Adult lobsters are most active after sunset, when they leave their shelter in search of food.

The male and female lobsters form a bond before and during mating process. It is the female’s home where she first sheds her skin. She then mates with the male and stays with him for a few days. She later moves on her own, gorging herself on food while her new shell hardens. The eggs typically hatch approximately two years after molting/mating.

Lobsters are remarkable creatures that have perfected the delicate process of carrying their eggs until they are ready to hatch. The female lobster possesses special adaptations that allow her to keep up to 100,000 tiny eggs secured to the underside of her tail for months without losing them. This seems like an astounding feat considering lobsters live in the tumultuous and dynamic environment of the ocean. So how exactly do lobster eggs stay attached and not fall off?

Lobster reproduction is a lengthy and intricate process. Once a female lobster mates and becomes “berried” with fertilized eggs, she will carry them for 9-12 months before they hatch. This raises the question – how do tens of thousands of pinhead-sized eggs remain firmly fixed to the female throughout this extended period of ocean activity without becoming dislodged? The secret lies in a combination of unique anatomical and behavioral adaptations:

The Egg-Bearing Anatomy

Modified swimmerets – Lobsters have small appendages under their tail called swimmerets which normally function in swimming. In females some swimmerets become specialized to carry eggs.
Cement glands – Glands in the female lobster’s swimmerets secrete a sticky, cement-like substance that glues the eggs in place
Brood chamber – Her abdominal segments form a chamber that protects the egg mass.
Tail fan – By fanning her tail, the female aerates the eggs and keeps them clean.

The Egg-Retention Process

Fertilization – Eggs are fertilized as they pass through sperm receptacles under her tail.
Adhesion – Cement glands coat the eggs so they stick to the modified swimmerets.
Assembly – She uses appendages to neatly assemble eggs in an ordered mass.
Fanning – Her tail fan provides critical oxygenation and cleaning.
Grooming – She diligently grooms eggs, removing debris and dead ones.
Guarding – She avoids physical threats and high turbulence during incubation.

Adaptive Behaviors

The female lobster displays behaviors that protect her delicate cargo of eggs:

Avoidance – She steers clear of turbulent surf and storm conditions that could dislodge eggs.
Sheltering – She tucks herself into rocky crevices and under ledges to escape harsh ocean forces.
Burrowing – She digs pits or burrows into substrate where eggs are less exposed.
Guarding – Her claws fend off predators that might harm eggs.
Gentleness – She moves with extreme care and grace to not disrupt the eggs.
Grooming – She diligently picks off debris and dead eggs to prevent dislodging healthy ones.

Why Lobster Egg Retention Matters

The incredible retention of lobster eggs has important implications for the ecology and population dynamics of these crustaceans.

Reproductive success – Egg retention ensures larvae hatch and continue the species lifecycle.
Genetic diversity – Vast quantities of retained eggs preserve diverse genes.
Population stability – High retention means less variability in lobster populations.
Commercial fisheries – Robust egg retention enables a sustainable lobster fishery.
Marine ecosystem balance – Lobsters play a vital predatory and prey role in coastal habitats.

fascinating Insights From Lobster Egg-Bearing

The miraculous adhesion of lobster eggs reveals valuable lessons.

Attention to detail – Lobsters meticulously care for their eggs, instructing us to be thorough and vigilant in our responsibilities.
Purposeful design – The specialized anatomy for egg-bearing shows how form aligns with function.
Power of adaptation – Lobsters modify habitats and habits to protect their eggs, underscoring the importance of flexibility.
Determination – Lobsters demonstrate remarkable tenacity in securing the next generation, inspiring our own perseverance.
Community dependence – Lobsters rely on healthy ecosystems for reproductive success, revealing our interconnectedness.

Lobsters have perfected the elaborate process of retaining thousands of eggs for months. This miraculous achievement relies on anatomical adaptations like cement glands and modified swimmerets, combined with protective behaviors. Understanding the mystery of how lobster eggs remain fixed in the dynamic ocean provides invaluable insights. It teaches us to attend to details, adapt when necessary, and appreciate the interconnectedness of all life. Most profoundly, it reveals that with fierce determination, tender devotion, and thoughtful design, we too can secure and nurture the precious gifts we have been entrusted to carry.

how do lobster eggs not fall off

Search Search Fisheries and Oceans Canada

For those of you asking if the eggs fall off when I throw them back. #maine #egg #ocean #lobster

How long do lobster eggs last?

The egg masses are periodically waved on their spinnerets to ensure their access to clean, well-oxygenated water. Female lobsters carry their eggs for 10-11 months. Hatchling lobsters are planktonic and commonly disperse quite widely with water currents.

How can I identify a bad egg without cracking it?

You can place the uncracked egg in a large bowl of cold water. If the egg floats to the top of the water then the egg has gone bad and should be discarded of. Expired eggs can be dangerous to your health so this is a great way to test without actually having to expose unnecessary foul odours and contaminants.

How long do female lobsters stay attached to their eggs?

The developing embryos remain attached to the female for an estimated 9 – 11 months. Brooding females care for and protect their eggs. Landing egg bearing female lobsters is prohibited in all US and Canadian waters. This management measure is one of the very best protections afforded to lobsters.

How do lobsters lay eggs?

Eggs are attached to a female’s walking legs, called pleopods or swimmerets, thanks to a glue-like substance that the female excretes. She carries eggs for another 9-12 months, depending on conditions and species. We can divide lobsters’ eggs into three stages: early, mid, and late stages. During the early stage, the eggs are greenish in color.