Taxonomy of Shellfish

Unit 8 - Taxonomy of lobsters

8.2. Chief characters used in the identification of lobsters

The key features of taxonomic value are carapace (shape, surface sculpturation, spination) eyes (absent, reduced or well developed, position of the orbits), antennules (length of flagella), antennae (size, shape, dentition and shape, length and structure of the flagellum) antennular plate (number and arrangement of spines, presence or absence of a stridulating organ), pereopods (whether or not chelate, size and structure of pots and short stripes. chelae), thoracic sternum (general shape, shape of anterior margin, presence or absence of tubercles or spines) and abdomen (dorsal sculpturation, shape of the pleura, shape of the tail, number of pleopods). Apart from these features the colour and the colour pattern of the species are also helpful in field identification.