Biodiversity & Conservation

Norway lobster - Nephrops norvegicus - General information

Nephrops norvegicus

Image Sue Scott - Nephrops norvegicus. Image width ca 20 cm.
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Distribution map

Nephrops norvegicus recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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Nephrops norvegicus is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Marisa Sabatini and Jacqueline Hill Text page icon Refereed by: Dr Sue Marrs

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Arthropoda Arthropods, joint-legged animals, e.g. insects, crustaceans & spiders
Class Malacostraca Crabs, lobsters, sand hoppers and sea slaters
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Common around most British coasts but not apparently recorded for the English Channel, the Bristol Channel or the Western Approaches. Populations also exist to the north east of Scotland on the Fladen Ground.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Found sublittorally in soft sediment, commonly at depths of between 200-800 m, although considerable populations exist at depths <200 m, for example the Clyde Sea. There are many records of Nephrops norvegicus populations <20 m in Scottish Sea Lochs. They live in shallow burrows and are common on grounds with fine cohesive mud which is stable enough to support their unlined burrows.
Text page icon Description Nephrops norvegicus is a small lobster, pale orange in colour. It grows to a maximum total length of 25 cm (including the tail and clawed legs), although individuals are normally between 18-20 cm. The head and thorax have a non-segmented cover (the carapace) while the long abdomen is clearly segmented with a broad fan-like tail. The first 3 pairs of legs bear claws. The first pair of legs are very elongated with longitudinal, spiny ridges. There are 2 pairs of antennae, the second pair much longer and thinner than the first. The eyes are large, black, and moveable.

This review can be cited as follows:

Marisa Sabatini and Jacqueline Hill 2008. Nephrops norvegicus. Norway lobster. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 26/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=3892>