How Do Lobsters Communicate With Each Other? [EXPLAINED] -

When we think of communication, lobsters are not usually the first to come to mind. Yet, these fascinating crustaceans have a complex system of communication that rivals even some mammals and birds.

From subtle body language to aggressive displays, lobsters use various methods to convey their intentions, establish dominance, and form social bonds.

In this article, we will discuss “How Do Lobsters Communicate With Each Other?” and more related queries to this topic, so let’s start exploring!

Table of Contents

How do lobsters communicate?

Animals came up with many ways to talk to each other, like making sounds, touching each other, and making chemicals. Lobsters are in the third group because they talk to each other by peeing or spreading their chemicals on each other.

The bladders of these colourful animals are on both sides of their heads. They have two urinal spouts under their eyes and spray pee at other lobsters they want to talk to. The sprayed lobster then takes the chemicals from the urine through its olfactory (smell) circuits and turns the smell into a message.

Pheromones are the chemicals that are in the pee of lobsters. They work like hormones outside the body, and other crabs can smell them. The smell can change based on what the lobster is trying to say. Sometimes it’s a sign of aggression or attraction, which we’ll discuss below.

Are lobsters social?

First, let’s look at who lobsters need to talk to. After all, what good is it to send a word if no one is there to get it?

Most of the time, clawed crabs live alone. The only time this doesn’t happen is during the breeding season, so most of what we know about how they talk is how they find a mate and fight off other potential mates. Some lobster species, like the Atlantic lobster in the movie above, have females that live close together to hatch their eggs. But in this case, they are fighting over a good spot instead of sharing it.

On the other hand, spiny crabs, which are also called crayfish, live in groups. They live in big groups, which protects them from predators and makes it easier for them to move because they can take turns following each other’s slipstream. Spiny lobsters grow more slowly when they are raised alone than when they are raised in a group. It shows that social interactions are important for their health.

So some crabs are social, and some aren’t. But both kinds of people need to talk to each other.

Can lobsters hear?

You probably haven’t ever thought that crabs might have ears. But if they can make sounds, it makes sense that they can also hear sounds. They can, but not with their ears. They have tiny structures called “hairfans” all over their bodies that can pick up movements made by other lobsters rasping, screeching, or vibrating.

Do lobsters communicate with each other using sounds?

Some lobsters communicate by making sounds. Spiny lobsters, for example, have been heard rasping and screaming. Depending on how often and loud they are, these sounds seem able to.

let other lobsters know about the discovery of a food source
serve as a warning about predators
scare away predators
startle predators so the lobster has a chance to escape
or even just other sea life know they’re there.

Male European-clawed lobsters can also make sounds underwater by moving their shell back and forth. Researchers aren’t sure why they do this, but we know that if there’s a lot of background noise from ships, the lobsters will shout to be heard over it!

Do lobsters never make any sound at all?

It is not quite true. A type of crab in Europe makes a sound when it rubs its antennae together. This noise is so loud that you can hear it two miles away beneath. Scientists have yet to determine what this noise is for, but they think it is mostly to scare away predators.

But none of the lobster species indeed have voice cords. Crustaceans that can talk or sing will stay in the world of cartoon movies.

Conclusion

Some lobster species are solitary most of the year, while others live in long-term social groups. We still don’t know how they communicate, but one of the best-understood and most fascinating methods is squirting pheromone-laden urine from beneath their eyes. These chemical messages establish social dominance and secure the best mate with minimal fighting.

Will you ever be able to look at a lobster in the same way again? If you have a fun lobster fact to share, please post it in the comments box below!

We hope you got all the information in this post, thank you.