Lobsters are marine invertebrates with tough exteriors, serving as prey for various marine creatures. Found across all oceans, these crustaceans inhabit the seafloor, often seeking refuge in rocky crevices. While they prey on smaller organisms, they also become a food source for larger animals, illustrating the balance of ocean ecosystems.
Fish Species That Prey on Lobsters
A range of fish species prey on lobsters, with many being bottom-dwelling groundfish that share the lobster’s seafloor habitat. Atlantic cod are prominent predators, known for consuming American lobsters off eastern North America, using strong jaws and comb-like teeth to break through their shells. Haddock, found on both sides of the North Atlantic, also prey on lobsters.
Other fish that prey on lobsters include:
Flounder, flatfish that camouflage on the seafloor and ambush prey.
Sculpins, bottom-dwelling fish with large mouths, which eat young lobsters.
Wolffish, possessing powerful jaws and teeth adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey like smaller lobsters.
Ocean pout, eel-like fish inhabiting the seafloor, which consume small lobsters.
Monkfish, known for their large mouths, occasionally include lobsters in their diet.
Eels, slender and elongated fish, navigate rocky crevices to prey on vulnerable lobsters, especially during molting. Dogfish, a type of small shark, are opportunistic feeders. Smooth dogfish primarily consume crustaceans like crabs and lobsters, using flat, blunt teeth to crush them. Smaller lobsters are generally more susceptible to predation.
Where Predation Occurs
Fish predation on lobsters primarily occurs on the ocean floor where these species interact. Lobsters inhabit cold water environments, preferring rocky areas but also found in sandy or muddy bottoms where they dig for shelter. These varied seafloor habitats influence predator hunting strategies; for instance, flounder camouflage on the seafloor to ambush lobsters.
Many fish species, such as cod and haddock, actively patrol these benthic zones. Lobsters seek refuge within rocky crevices and burrows, but predators like eels can still access them. The depth range for these interactions varies; for example, some predators like tautog live in depths ranging from 10 to 150 feet, while smooth dogfish are typically found in waters less than 60 feet deep.
Lobster Vulnerability to Fish Predators
Lobsters exhibit varying degrees of vulnerability to fish predation throughout their life stages. Juvenile lobsters are more susceptible to predators than adults due to their smaller size and softer shells. After larval and post-larval stages, young lobsters seek shelter in crevices or bury themselves. It is estimated that only about 10% of lobster eggs survive to reach the juvenile stage, highlighting high predation rates early in life.
A lobster’s vulnerability increases during its molting phase. When shedding its old exoskeleton, the new shell is soft and pliable, leaving the lobster less mobile and exposed. The hardening process can take up to two weeks, during which the lobster is at elevated risk.
Adult lobsters are less vulnerable due to their hardened exoskeletons and defensive claws, but larger fish like cod, wolffish, and certain sharks can still prey on them. While lobsters hide in crevices and burrows for protection, these defenses are not always sufficient.