Lines & Matter

Lines & Matter · Field guide

Crustaceans

For an American lobster, growing means leaving its armor behind. It sheds its hard external skeleton and forms a new one. This process, called molting, is a striking example of the challenges of living inside a shell.

A question to exploreWhy might the time between an old shell and a new one be especially vulnerable?

Read more: NOAA Fisheries ↗
Decorative natural-history illustration for crustaceans

For learning and art, not identification or safety advice. Guide use & limitations

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About poison, venom & responsible observation

Poisonous organisms can cause harm when toxins are swallowed or absorbed. Venomous organisms deliver toxins through a bite, sting, or other wound. A species can be both. An absent annotation never means safe to handle or eat.

Read the Natural History Museum explanation ↗