Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Nephrops norvegicus
- Common name
- Norway lobster
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Nephropidae
- Genus
- Nephrops
- Size
- 8–25 cm
- Depth
- 20–800 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand
- Behaviours
- solitary, burrower, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Nephrops norvegicus reaches 25 cm. Small reptilian decapod crustacean with a pale pink-orange body, characteristic long thin striated claws. Lives in self-dug burrows on sandy-muddy bottoms of the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean between 20 and 800 m. Emerges at night to hunt. Huge trawl commercial fishery, daily in Brittany, Iceland, Denmark. Refined gastronomy (Dublin Bay prawn in UK, scampi in Italy).
Photo of Norway lobster
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Norway lobster?
- Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) reaches 8–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Norway lobster?
- Norway lobster is found between 20–800 m deep.
- Is the Norway lobster dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Norway lobster?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Norway lobster?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Nephropidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 107254)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2226962)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia