Sunday, November 27, 2011

Caribbean Lobsters have dreadlocks

My brother and sister-in-law were visiting over the turkey day holiday, and while watching the Harbaugh Bowl (third game on Thanksgiving proper), Dan and I were discussing marine creatures.  If you have read many of my blogs, you will know that creatures that live in water are my favorites (other than our cats or the spouse, of course).  Dan mentioned that "Caribbean lobsters have dreadlocks", which started me thinking about one of my favorite creatures and dinner items.
borrowed from http://www.underwaterplanet.com/Belize3Lobster.jpg

When they bend their two huge antennae back towards their carapace, they kind of do look like two big dreadlocks.  Dan did not realize that the Caribbean Spiny Lobster was structurally that much different from their colder water cousins, but now he does!



borrowed from http://www.lobsterfrommaine.com/authentic-maine-lobster.aspx
As a kid, my brother and I spent too much time in the local creek harvesting crawfish to sell to the bait shops.  At that point, I didn't understand about sustainable fishing practices.  I am little smarter about that stuff now......