Lobsters communicate by peeing on other lobsters. This might sound gross, but it’s a very important part of lobster communication. By peeing on each other, lobsters can send chemical signals that establish their territory in competition with other males, and their social hierarchy, and also let potential mates know that they’re the best choice for reproduction.
Do lobsters make sounds to communicate?
They have no vocal cords so they can’t make any sounds, but they do have a lot of other ways of communicating. They can also rub their antennas to find their way around and receive signals from other lobsters.
How do lobsters pee?
Lobsters pee out of their faces. More specifically, they pee out of two small holes located at the sides of their heads. Their urinary gland is located under their brain and their nephrology rosette glands are located at the base of their antennae which releases the urine with pheromones.
What is a pheromone?
Pheromones are chemical messages that help animals communicate with each other. There are different ways to send out pheromones, but in general, they are released into the environment where they can be detected by other animals.
In humans, pheromones are thought to be the chemicals that make us happy or attracted to someone. Lobsters, on the other hand, use pheromones for different purposes. For example, male lobsters use pheromones to assert their dominance over other males and mark their territory, and for female lobsters to signal that they are ready to mate.
How do lobsters mate?
Male lobsters first set the record straight with other males by fighting and establishing dominance. The winning male will release chemicals that are stronger than the others to keep other males away from his area and attract potential females.
The female lobster will be the one to pick its mate and chooses the strongest-smelling (dominant) male. It does this by approaching the male’s burrow. When a female lobster is ready to mate, she releases a chemical signal in her urine to the male’s face to tell him that she is ready.
The male and female lobster will copulate with the female by depositing spermatophores into the female’s abdomen. After the male and female spend two weeks together, the female lobster will leave their shared burrow. For approximately 9 to 12 months, she carries her eggs until they are ready to hatch; a process in which up to 10,000 eggs can be laid at once and attached underneath her tail.
Conclusion
Lobsters are fascinating creatures that communicate with each other in interesting ways, like urinating on each other. They achieve many things like establishing dominance, marking their territory, and attracting mates. Other than a delicious seafood meal, these interesting creatures have a lot more to them than meets the eye.
