Many people imagine baby lobsters as tiny replicas of the adults, complete with miniature claws and hard shells. However, this common perception is far from accurate. The early life of a lobster involves a series of dramatic transformations, where the offspring look remarkably different from their parents.
Early Life Stages
Newly hatched lobsters begin their lives as transparent, free-swimming larvae, often measuring only a few millimeters in length. These initial larval stages bear little resemblance to adult lobsters. They possess a delicate, almost invisible exoskeleton, helping them blend into the water and offering protection from predators. These tiny creatures float near the surface of the water for their first few weeks, carried by currents.
Some species, like spiny and slipper lobsters, have a distinct larval form called a phyllosoma. This larva is characterized by a remarkably thin, flat, and transparent body with long, spindly legs, perfectly adapted for drifting in the water column. Unlike adult lobsters, these larvae lack prominent claws and rely on numerous appendages, such as swimmerets, to help them navigate the water.
Juvenile Appearance
Following several molts, the larval lobster undergoes a significant transformation, developing into a post-larva or “lobster fry.” At this stage, after about four molts, the young lobster begins to resemble a miniature version of its adult form. These post-larval lobsters, though still small, develop tiny claws and a more defined tail, transitioning from a free-swimming existence to a bottom-dwelling one. They settle to the ocean floor, seeking shelter in rocky areas or grassy beds.
Juvenile lobsters continue to grow and develop, with their coloration emerging and their bodies becoming more robust. While they now possess the general shape and characteristics of an adult, they remain considerably smaller, weighing around one pound when they reach legal harvest size, a process that can take 5 to 7 years. Their habits also become more similar to adult lobsters, as they venture out from their shelters to forage.
From Larva to Lobster
The transition from a tiny, transparent larva to a recognizable juvenile lobster, and eventually an adult, is driven by a process known as molting. Lobsters wear their skeletons on the outside, in the form of a rigid exoskeleton that does not grow with them. To increase in size, they must periodically shed this outer shell and grow a new, larger one.
Each molt brings the lobster closer to its adult form, with changes in body shape, the development of appendages, and the acquisition of their characteristic coloration. The molting process begins with hormonal changes that soften the old exoskeleton, allowing the lobster to back out of its old shell. After molting, the lobster absorbs seawater to expand its new, soft shell, which then hardens over several days or weeks. Young lobsters molt frequently, up to 25 times in their first 5 to 7 years, increasing their length by about 15% and weight by 40% with each molt.