Crustaceans

American Lobster, Homarus americanus

Common name: American lobster
Latin name: Homarus americanus
Average Lifespan: 60 years+ (not easily studied, so exact numbers are unknown)1
Habitat: Rocky and sandy ocean bottoms [with ample places to burrow and hide]1
Diet: Scavenger, fish, crabs, clams, and more1,2
Geographical range: Canada to North Carolina1
Salinity and Temperature range:  Cool to cold temperate waters5
General Information: Molt many times throughout their life, growing 10-15% each time.3 These animals are cannibalistic in human care, and are difficult to raise in large groups.3,4 American Lobsters are nocturnal.2 Lobsters are usually a mottled brown/green/blue, but can be many different colors in the wild depending on genetic mutations (orange, blue, calico, white).4

Lobster

Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus

Common name: Blue Crab
Latin name: Callinectes sapidus
Average Lifespan: 2 to 3 years3
Habitat: Coastal, bottom dwelling1,4
Diet: Crabs, oysters, mussels, and other small animals1
Geographical range: Nova Scotia to Argentina, mostly found in Cape Cod. 3
Salinity and Temperature range: Wide range of salinity (larvae are best at 20ppt), 15 to 30 °C3
General Information: Females only reproduce once, and will brood their eggs.3 If they lose a limb, they can regrow it within two molting periods.