If you like lobsters a lot, you should know what kinds you can get. How many kinds of lobster are there? There are 12 kinds of lobster that come from all over the world, but not all of them can be eaten. In this article, you will get all the information about them. Read on!.
I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge fan of lobster. That sweet, succulent meat is to die for! Lobster is one of my favorite foods, whether it’s a whole boiled lobster, lobster tails, or just chunks of lobster meat sprinkled in pasta or salad.
But here’s the thing – not all lobster is created equal. There are actually a ton of different types of lobster out there! When I first started learning about all the kinds I was shocked. The types vary based on where they live and what they look like.
In this article, I’m going to walk you through the main types of lobster that exist. I’ll talk about how many there are total, differences between cold water and warm water lobster, and some of the most popular kinds of lobster from around the world. Let’s dive in!
How Many Types of Lobster Exist Total?
So first things first – how many types of lobster are there in total? Well, experts say there are over 40 different species of lobster globally! That’s a lot more than I realized.
The number includes both saltwater and freshwater lobsters. However, many of the species are very rare or even endangered in the wild. For eating purposes, there are realistically more like 16 common types that us regular folks will encounter in restaurants or fish markets.
Those 16 break down into 2 main categories: cold water lobsters and warm water lobsters. Let me explain the difference between those two groups.
Warm Water Lobsters vs Cold Water Lobsters
Warm water and cold water lobsters look and act pretty different from each other
Warm water lobsters are found – you guessed it – in warm ocean waters! Places like the Caribbean, the California coast, and the South Pacific. Examples include the Caribbean lobster and the California spiny lobster.
Warm water lobsters don’t have the big front claws that we associate with lobsters. Instead, they have long antennae and their bodies are smoother. Most of the meat comes from the tail.
Cold water lobsters live in colder oceans, like off the Atlantic coast of Canada and New England. These are the kinds of lobsters I see most often in restaurants and fish markets, with the big front claws full of delicious meat. Examples include the Maine lobster and North Atlantic lobster.
The bodies of cold water lobsters are more rough and spiny compared to warm water lobsters. Because of the claws, there’s more meat overall to enjoy.
Now that we’ve got that distinction down, let’s look at some of the most popular and delicious types of lobster!
Popular Types of Cold Water Lobster
Cold water lobsters make up a lot of the lobster industry since they have more meat. Here are 6 of the top kinds:
1. Maine Lobster
Maine lobsters come from the cold waters of the northwest Atlantic Ocean. In my opinion, this is hands down the best and most flavorful type of lobster! The sweet taste and tender texture can’t be beat.
Maine lobsters are also the biggest lobsters, often weighing up to 20 pounds or more! Be careful of the big pincers on those claws if you run into a monster Maine lobster.
2. North Atlantic Lobster
Similar to Maine lobsters, North Atlantic lobsters come from the chilly waters off Canada’s east coast. Their taste is sweeter and more delicate compared to Maine lobsters.
North Atlantic lobsters don’t grow as large either, usually maxing out around 10 pounds. Still some impressively sized claws though!
3. Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Ok, I lied – the Caribbean spiny lobster is technically a “warm water” lobster even though it has claws. It’s found in the waters around the Bahamas, Caribbean islands, and Central America.
These spiny lobsters have speckled brown bodies and striped antennae. The tail meat is firmer than Maine lobster tail.
4. European Lobster
This type of lobster lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean near Europe and Northern Africa. They hide out in rocky crevices along the seafloor.
European lobsters grow more slowly than American lobsters due to the cold water. But their meat is delicious – similar to Maine lobster though not quite as sweet.
5. Australian Rock Lobster
Another variety of spiny lobster, these guys live around Australia’s northern and western coastlines. Most grow to around 9 pounds max.
The tails have a soft texture and subtle sweet flavor. Australian rock lobsters are popular in Asian cuisine.
6. New Zealand Scampi
The New Zealand scampi is actually a “slipper lobster” – aka it doesn’t have front claws! It’s named for the scampo or langoustine lobsters found in Europe.
Slipper lobsters live buried in the mud and have flattened bodies and antennae. The sweet tail meat is similar to other spiny lobsters.
Next up, let’s look at the most common warm water lobsters.
Popular Types of Warm Water Lobster
Warm water lobsters rely on their long antennae more than bulky front claws. Here are 5 common kinds:
1. California Spiny Lobster
The California spiny lobster lacks claws completely and has a greenish-brown spotted body. It hugs the Pacific coastline from Baja California up to Monterey.
These guys love to hide in rocky crevices. Their tails have a delicate, almost nutty flavor.
2. Shovelnose Lobster
Shovelnose lobsters are found in Hawaii and get their name from their flat, shovel-shaped face. They don’t have big claws either.
The small tails and legs have sweeter meat compared to other warm water lobsters.
3. Slipper Lobster
Slipper lobsters include several warm water species like the Mexican slipper lobster and Spanish slipper lobster. As I mentioned before, slipper lobsters lack claws.
They make up for it with flattened antennae and coral-colored bodies. The tail meat is especially good when grilled.
4. Moreton Bay Bug
This Australian lobster species has a short squat body and hairy legs. They hide in reefs and rocky areas.
Moreton Bay bugs are gaining popularity for their tender, moist claw and tail meat. They’re like a little langoustine!
5. South African Lobster
Lastly, the South African lobster inhabits the waters around southern Africa (surprise, surprise). They have light green bodies with white spots.
South African lobster tails are meaty with a subtly briny flavor. The texture is a bit more porous than other lobster tails.
The Takeaway on Types of Lobster
So there you have it – a crash course on the major types of lobster across the globe! From cold water Maine and Atlantic lobsters to warm water spiny, slipper, and shovelnose lobsters, there are around 16 common varieties for eating.
In general, cold water lobsters offer more total meat since they have big front claws. Their flavor is universally described as sweeter compared to warm water lobsters.
However, warm water lobsters have their perks too! The tail meat is unique with a subtler flavor in many species. And some claws, like on the Moreton Bay bug, are absolutely worth savoring.
Characteristics common of lobsters
As you might already know, lobsters are omnivores that eat fish, plants and crustaceans. They are used as food for not only humans but also for crabs, fish and seals. They can scavenge from dead carcasses if necessary.
Every kind of lobster has a hard shell season and a soft shell season. This is because lobsters shed their shells to grow. During this process, they puff up their own flesh with water in order to create a roomier shell. This water-loaded flesh has a different flavor.
Hard and soft shell lobsters need to be cooked in different ways. This is because soft shell lobsters are more fragile and take longer to ship. There are 2 main types of lobster: cold water lobster and warm water lobster. If you prefer lobster claw meat, you need to get a cold water lobster.
Because of this, Fishermens Net will divide 12 types of lobster into groups based on where they live in the water.
The warm water lobster doesn’t have big front claws; instead, its front legs look like an antenna that is too big. You may also hear them called “rock lobster” or “spiny lobster.” You can find them mostly along the coast of California and in the Caribbean.
Their peak season is in the winter months. Generally, they are less expensive and the main source of meat is from the tail.
Caribbean lobsters are mostly caught near the coast of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, as you can tell from the name. You can also find them along the North American coast.
The best time for Caribbean lobsters to spawn is when the water is 73 degrees F (23 degrees C), which is between April and October.
Caribbean lobsters are commercially fished when they reach the minimum size of around 3 inches (7. 6 centimeters). They have a harder shell than cold-water lobsters. Their shell has gray and brown stripes, and the tail has yellow spots. .
- Season: Aug – Mar
- Average Price (Frozen Shipped): $35/lb.
- Average Price (Live): $25/lb.
- Flavor: Sweet and delicate flavor with succulent tail meat.
What type of lobster is the best?
People all over the world love and prize Maine cold-water lobsters for their sweet, tender, juicy, and best-textured meat. They live in warmer waters than Canada, which makes them taste better than any other type of lobster.
Types of Lobsters | 10 Lobster Species #lobsters #lobster
How many types of lobster are there?
Despite being the most recognizable, there are only two common species of clawed lobster: the American lobster (AKA Maine lobster) and European lobster. These lobsters have five pairs of limbs, three of which are clawed. Chances are, if you order lobster at a restaurant or buy one at the supermarket, it’s a clawed lobster.
Are all lobsters the same?
Lobster is a popular seafood that is enjoyed around the world. However, not all lobster s are the same. There are several different types of lobster, each with its own uni que characteristics. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the different types of lobster and how to identify them.
How many types of squat lobster are there?
More than 1,000 species of squat lobster have been discovered along the ocean floor, and they’re a popular food across South America. Often brightly colored, species of squat lobster such as the yeti crab are closely related, making identification of new species a difficult task.
What kind of lobsters live in the ocean?
They include the Eunephrops bairdii, which is the typical red lobster, found about 230-360 meters deep in the ocean and the Eunephrops cadenasi which has a cylindrical body and enlarged first claws. Other species are Eunephrops manningi from the Florida Straits and Eunephrops luckhurst. Source: Marine Species