langoustine

Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Crustacea

Class: Malacostraca

Order: Decapoda

Suborder: Pleocyemata

Infraorder: Astacidea

Family: Nephropidae

Genus: Nephrops [1]

Leach, 1814 Species: N. norvegicus

Binomial name Nephrops norvegicus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, (also called Dublin Bay prawn, langoustine or scampi), is a slim, orange-pink lobster which grows up to 24 cm long (9-10 in) [2]. It is found in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and North Sea as far north as Iceland and northern Norway, and south to Portugal. It is not common in the Mediterranean Sea except in the Adriatic Sea [3] ,notably the north Adriatic [4].

Norway lobsters are solitary predators, feeding on other animals such as worms and fish [5].

In December 1995, the commensal Symbion pandora was discovered attached to the mouthparts of a Norway lobster, and was found to be the first member of a new phylum, the Cycliophora [6].

As food

The tail is muscular and is frequently eaten by humans, often under the name "scampi". Norway lobster is eaten on special occasions in Spain and Portugal, where it is less expensive than the European lobster [7].

The Norway lobster is an important species for fisheries, being caught mostly by trawling. Around 60,000 tonnes are caught annually, half of it in the United Kingdom's waters [8].

Discards from Nephrops norvegicus fishery may account for up to 37% of the energy requirements of certain marine scavengers, such as the hagfish Myxine glutinosa [9]. Boats involved in Nephrops fishery also catch a number of fish species such as plaice and sole, and it is thought that without that revenue, Nephrops fishery would be economically unviable [10].

Gallery

Freshly caught Norway lobsters in Scotland

Steamed Norway lobsters tails

Grilled Norway lobsters

References ^ Several other species formerly included in the genus Nephrops are now included in the genus Metanephrops. ^ "Noorse kreeft — Nephrops norvegicus". SoortenBank.nl. http://www.soortenbank.nl/soorten.php?soortengroep=duikgids&record=Nephrops+norvegicus. Retrieved on 2006-08-24. ^ Alan Davidson (2002). Mediterranean Seafood. Ten Speed Press. ISBN 978-1580084512. ^ "Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)". AdriaMed. Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.faoadriamed.org/html/Species/NephropsNorvegicus.html. ^ J. C. Early. "Processing Norway lobsters". Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/tan/x5908E/x5908e01.htm. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. ^ Funch, P. & R. M. Kristensen (1995). "Cycliophora is a new phylum with affinities to Entoprocta and Ectoprocta" (abstract). Nature 378: 711–714. doi:10.1038/378711a0. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v378/n6558/abs/378711a0.html. ^ "Spain Annual Seafood Report". American Embassy, Madrid. 1995-09-15. http://www.aquanic.org/publicat/govagen/fas/sp5039.htm. ^ "Nephrops norvegicus".