Skip to main content

Story: Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans

Rock lobster moulting

Image
Crayfish moulting

A rock lobster begins to moult when its carapace detaches from its tail section. Then the animal hunches its body up and withdraws its head and legs from the old shell. Later, it wriggles forward and frees its abdomen from the old tail segments.

Using this item

Private collection

by Alison MacDiarmid

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans – Crustaceans – bugs of the sea, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8224/crayfish-moulting (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, published 2 March 2009.