No. Lobsters are crustaceans, not fish. More specifically, an American lobster is an arthropod in the class Malacostraca and the order Decapoda.
What a lobster is classified as
The biological classification is: lobster → crustacean → arthropod. NOAA Fisheries classifies the American lobster (Homarus americanus) in the phylum Arthropoda, class Malacostraca, and order Decapoda. The Integrated Taxonomic Information System likewise lists it as a crustacean in Decapoda.
Arthropods are animals with jointed limbs and an external skeleton. Crustaceans are one major arthropod group. Fish belong to a different branch of the animal kingdom: they are vertebrates with backbones. A lobster’s aquatic habitat does not make it a fish.
Why lobsters are crustaceans
They have an external skeleton
Lobsters are protected by a hard outer shell, or exoskeleton. They must shed this shell to grow, a process called molting.
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They have jointed legs
NOAA describes the American lobster as having 10 legs, including two large, strong claws. Jointed appendages and an exoskeleton are characteristic arthropod features, not fish features.
They are in the decapod group
The order Decapoda includes animals commonly known as lobsters, crabs, crayfishes, prawns, and shrimp. “Decapoda” refers to animals with ten walking legs, although those limbs can be modified for tasks such as grasping.
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Does “lobster” always mean the same animal?
No. “Lobster” is a common name used for several kinds of crustaceans, so the exact animal depends on the context.
American lobster
The American, or clawed, lobster has large claws on its front legs. Its scientific name is Homarus americanus.
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Spiny lobster
Spiny lobsters lack the large front claws associated with American lobsters and have horns above their eyes. NOAA notes that the retail phrase “lobster tail” usually refers to spiny lobster.
Squat lobster
Squat lobsters are another naming case. Despite the name, NOAA Ocean Exploration notes that they are more closely related to hermit crabs than to the clawed lobsters people commonly picture.
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Lobster versus fish at a glance
| Feature | Lobster | Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Major group | Crustacean; an arthropod | Vertebrate |
| Skeleton | External skeleton (exoskeleton) | Internal skeleton with a backbone |
| Limbs | Jointed legs; some form claws | Fins rather than jointed walking legs |
| Example | American lobster (Homarus americanus) | Species such as cod, salmon, or tuna |
Why the confusion happens
Lobsters and fish both live in water and are sold as seafood. Those similarities describe where they live or how people use them, not how they are related biologically. In classification, a lobster is a crustacean and a fish is a vertebrate.
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