Growth and gut morphology of the lobster Nephrops norvegicus

Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a decapod crustacean of high economic importance found across the northeast Atlantic. Little is currently known about the variation in stomach morphology with body size. In this study, a novel two-stage endocasting technique was used to determine stomach volume in relation to carapace length. Scanning electron microscope images of the teeth of the gastric mill were analysed to determine the changes in gastric mill size and structure with growth. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between both carapace length and stomach volume, and the size of the gastric mill. These changes are thought to facilitate an increase in size and range of prey species.