Nephrops norvegicus

Imagine a lobster that's not super big, but is a pretty pinkish-orange color, like a sunset! That's the Nephrops norvegicus, also called a Dublin Bay prawn or scampi. It's a bit like a tiny, slim lobster that lives in the ocean. They are about as long as a ruler you use at school, which is up to 25 centimeters or 10 inches. They have a special home in the ocean, digging little burrows to hide in.

These little sea dwellers call the chilly waters of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean their home. Think of places like the coasts of Ireland and the United Kingdom. They also like to swim around in parts of the Mediterranean Sea, which is a big, warm sea near Europe.

But they don't like the Baltic Sea or the Black Sea, so they stay away from those places. They prefer to live in their cozy burrows on the seafloor.

When the sun goes down and it gets dark in the ocean, the Nephrops norvegicus comes out to play and eat! They are not picky eaters and love to munch on yummy worms they find in the sand. They also enjoy a tasty fish or two if they can catch them. So, they are carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. They are like little ocean hunters, looking for their next meal after a day of hiding.

These little lobsters are super important for people in Europe! They are the most popular and important crustacean, which means they are a type of sea creature with a shell, like crabs and shrimp. Lots of people love to eat them, and they are a big part of fishing in Europe. So, even though they are small, they are a very big deal for the ocean and for the people who live near it!