Description: Smaller than the common lobster Homarus gammarus and much more finely built. Grows to a maximum size of around 25 cm, although more commonly found to be 18 – 20 cm. The body is orange in colour, the head and thorax form an unjointed carapace, while the abdomen is clearly segmented and ends in a broad, fanned tail. The first three sets of legs bear claws. The first set of legs have long, slim claws with distinctive spines. Two pairs of antennae, the second pair being the longest. Large, black eyes. Often overfished. Fishing method used is trawling which causes widespread damage to the habitat and species present there.

Habitat: Soft muddy sediment in which they can burrow. Usually 20 m +, often deeper.

Distribution: Most records are from the east coast of Northern Ireland and west coast of Scotland, although there are scattered populations throughout Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Key Identification Features:

• Slim, elongate orange-bodied lobster.
• First set of clawed legs bears distinctive spines.
• Large, black eyes.

Distribution Map from NBN: Nephrops norvegicus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Nephrops norvegicus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Nephrops norvegicus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 107254.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Astacidea; Nephropoidea; Nephropidae; Nephrops