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crayfish and lobsters and often confused for each other, and it certainly doesn’t help if lobsters are called crayfish in some regions. It’s an easy mistake to make – after all, they are incredibly similar. Both live in water, have hard exoskeletons and large claws. But the truth is that they are actually two completely different types.
But how similar are they really? For starters, there is a huge difference in size and they eat different things. But perhaps the most important difference is that they live in completely different places – they live in the sea while the other lives rivers and lakes. Join us to discover all their differences and find out exactly who lives where.
Comparing Lobster vs Crayfish
Lobsters and crayfish are both shellfish and invertebrates who have shed their hard exoskeleton many times over the course of their lives. They are also both decapods and have ten legs. So if they have so many things in common, you’re probably wondering if there are any differences at all. Well, despite their similarities, there are still some key differences, and some even make it easy to differentiate between the two.
Check out the chart below to learn some of the key differences.
| Lobster | Crayfish | |
| Measure | Usually 8 to 20 inches long | 2 – 6 inches long |
| Habitat | Salt water – in total oceans on sandy and muddy bottoms | Fresh water – lakes, rivers, streams, ponds. Usually under rocks and in crevices at the bottom |
| Colour | Usually greenish blue or greenish brown, but can vary widely | Usually dark blue, dark green or black |
| eating pattern | Small fish, snails, Mussels, molluscs, other small crustaceans | insectsworms, plants |
| Lifespan | Up to 100 years | Between 1 and 20 years |
| Number of species | About 30 real (claw) lobsters | More than 640 |
The 5 main differences between crayfish and lobster
Crayfish vs Lobster: Size
One of the differences between crayfish and lobsters is their size. Crayfish are much smaller than lobsters and range between 2 and 6 inches in length. Lobsters are much larger and are usually between 8 and 20 inches long, but some can even be several feet long.
Crayfish vs Lobster: Habitat
The easiest way to tell the difference between lobsters and crayfish is to see where they live. Crayfish live in fresh water rivers, lakes, ponds and streams, while lobsters live in salt water in seas and oceans. However, both are bottom dwellers and like to hide under rocks and in crevices on the muddy bottoms.
Crayfish vs Lobster: Color
At first glance, there isn’t much of a difference between the color of lobsters and crayfish — crayfish are dark blue, green, or black, while lobsters are teal or green-brown. However, lobsters can sometimes be seen in a wide variety of bright colors, including albino, red, orange, or blue.
Crayfish vs Lobster: Diet
Crayfish and lobsters also have different diets, although they are both omnivores. Lobsters mainly eat small fish, mollusks, snails, Mussels, some plants and others small shellfish. Crayfish eat a mixture of plants, worms, insectsand dead plants and animals.
Crayfish vs Lobster: Longevity
Lobsters and crayfish also have vastly different lifespans. Depending on the species, crayfish live between 1 and 20 years. However, lobsters usually live up to 100 years. Incredibly, some far surpass that and the oldest lobster ever caught was estimated to be 140 years old. The secret to their longevity is believed to be due to telomerase – an enzyme that repairs DNA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are lobsters and crayfish from the same family group?
No, lobsters come from the family group Nephropidae while crayfish come from four family groups – Astacidae, Cambaridae, Cambaroididae, and Parastacidae.
Are false lobsters really lobsters or not?
No, although they have the same name, reef, spiny, slipper and stocky lobsters are not true lobsters. Only lobsters with claws are classified as true lobsters. Reef, spiny, slipper and squat lobsters are from different family groups to true lobsters and there are a number of differences between them although the main difference is in their claws.
Can lobsters survive in fresh water?
No, lobsters need salt to survive and maintain the salinity of their bodies. when they are in fresh water for a longer period of time they will die.
Can crayfish survive in salt water?
No, although some species of crayfish live in brackish water, they cannot fully survive in salt water.
What are the predators of crayfish?
The natural enemies of crayfish are large fish, otters, raccoons, mink, and some big birds. Being predators of their eggs and young fish and other crayfish.
What are the predators of lobsters?
Lobsters’ natural enemies are varied as lobsters are found in so many different oceans, but some have large ones too fish, eel
,
scratch, and seals.
Why was it once thought that lobsters can live forever?
Many people originally thought that lobsters were immortal because of a few things. The first is the presence of telomerase, an enzyme that can repair DNA and cells that are lost or damaged each time they shed their exoskeleton. The second reason is that lobsters never stop growing and as adults they shed their entire exoskeleton every two to three years. Also, even as they get older, lobsters continue to reproduce and do not become sterile. However, lobsters eventually die, and those of old age die during a moult (when they shed their exoskeleton). This happens because it is too tiring for them to throw off such a large shell and they get stuck half way through and die.
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