Homarus Centre and the Boutique will be close from 2 pm on August 29.

Fri - Sat - Sun from 12pm to 5pm

OUR SPECIES

Discover Our Marine Life

Journey beneath the waves and meet the incredible inhabitants of the Northumberland Straits. From those we strive to protect, to the ones calling the Homarus Centre home, discover the fascinating tales of each species. Let's unveil the wonders of our watery world together!

Calling Homarus Home

Meet Our Marine Friends

Discover a diverse array of marine life that thrives within the Northumberland Straits. Our mini profiles provide details for each species’ unique characteristics, habitats, and roles in the ecosystem. Whether they’re a part of our research focus or residents at the Homarus Centre, these aquatic wonders have a story worth exploring.

Lobsters

Step into the extraordinary world of lobsters at the Homarus Centre, where you’ll encounter some of nature’s most unique crustaceans. From lobsters flaunting three claws to those adorned in mesmerizing calico patterns, and even the rare blue, calico, and orange varieties, our collection is a showcase of nature’s incredible creativity. Each of these special residents, with their remarkable colours and unusual features, tells a fascinating story of genetic diversity and the wonders of marine life.

RARITY
3/5
Alfred

American Lobster

Alfred is an ambidextrous lobster with 2 big crusher claws.

Carapace Length

122mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

2 Crusher Claws

Location
of origin

Cap-Pelé, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
AND

American Lobster

ET has 3 claws!

Carapace Length

88mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

3 Claws

Location
of origin

Unknown

RARITY
2/5
Blue Tooth

American Lobster

Blue Tooth is a dark blue lobster.

Carapace Length

87mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Dark Blue

Location
of origin

Shediac Lobster Shop

RARITY
3/5
Brianna

American Lobster

Brianna is a calico lobster.

Carapace Length

74mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Calico

Location
of origin

Murray Corner, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
Butter

American Lobster

Butter is a pale peachy coloured lobster.

Carapace Length

81mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Peach

Location
of origin

Cap-Pelé, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
Cheddar cheese

American Lobster

Cheddar is dark orange with black claws.

Carapace Length

91mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Dark Orange

Location
of origin

Unknown

RARITY
2/5
Cinderella

American Lobster

Cinderella is the biggest lobster at the Homarus Centre.

Carapace Length

133mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Peachy Blue

Location
of origin

Shediac Lobster Shop

RARITY
3/5
Flake

American Lobster

Flake is a calico lobster with spots on his antennae.

Carapace Length

83mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Calico

Location
of origin

Cap-Pelé, NB

,
RARITY
2/5
Leonard

American Lobster

Leonard is a little blue lobster. She is often hiding under rocks in the touch tank.

Carapace Length

45mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Blue

Location
of origin

Cap-Pelé, NB

RARITY
4/5
Lucky

American Lobster

Homarus is lucky to have Lucky! He is our only half-and-half lobster.

Carapace Length

87mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Half-and-Half

Location
of origin

Petit-Cap, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
Martine

American Lobster

Martine is a bright orange lobster.

Carapace Length

77mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Orange

Location
of origin

Cap-Pele, NB

,
RARITY
2/5
Midnight Lightning

American Lobster

Midnight Lightning has a bright blue stripe along her back.

Carapace Length

83mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Blue

Location
of origin

Cap Lumiere, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
Oliver

American Lobster

Oliver is a calico lobster with "splotchy" spots.

Carapace Length

80mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Calico

Location
of origin

Cormierville, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
Peaches

American Lobster

Peaches is a pale peachy coloured lobster. She is as pretty as a peach.

Carapace Length

91mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Peach

Location
of origin

Petit-Cap, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
Pumpkin

American Lobster

Pumpkin is the bright orange lobster living in the Homarus aquarium.

Carapace Length

98mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Orange

Location
of origin

Murray Corner, NB

,
RARITY
2/5
Rowdy B

American Lobster

Rowdy B is a feisty blue lobster.

Carapace Length

88mm

Sex

Female

Special Feature

Blue

Location
of origin

Cap-Pelé, NB

,
RARITY
2/5
Smurf

American Lobster

Smurf is the big blue lobster living in the Homarus aquarium.

Carapace Length

87mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Blue

Location
of origin

Petit-Cap, NB

,
RARITY
3/5
Spot

American Lobster

Spot is our biggest calico lobster.

Carapace Length

97mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Calico

Location
of origin

Murray Corner, NB

,
RARITY
2/5
Surf

American Lobster

Surf is a vibrant blue lobster.

Carapace Length

87mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Blue

Location
of origin

Petit-Cap, NB

,
RARITY
1/5
Timmie

American Lobster

Timmie spends the school year in a classroom helping students learn all about lobster.

Carapace Length

79mm

Sex

Male

Special Feature

Peachy Blue

Location
of origin

Shippagan, NB from Aquarium NB

Crustacians

From the iconic lobsters with their formidable claws to the scuttling crabs and shrimpy spectacles, these fascinating creatures are a study in survival and adaptation. With their intricate exoskeletons and remarkable life cycles, crustaceans are not just seafood delicacies but pivotal players in the marine ecosystem, each with a story to tell.

Acadian Hermit Crab

Pagurus acadianus

Hermit crabs need extra protection, so they borrow discarded snail shells to live in.

Habitat

Gravelly, rocky seafloor

Diet

Fish, mollusks, crustaceans

Lifespan

Unknown

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

American Lobster

Homarus americanus

The lobster is an important species for commercial fisheries in Atlantic Canada.

Habitat

Rocky areas on the ocean floor (depths 0 to 50 m)

Diet

Fish, crabs, mollusks

Lifespan

60 to 100 years or more

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

,
Barnacle

Semibalanus balanoides

Barnacles attach themselves to hard structures like rocks, boat hulls, or wharfs. They can also attach to other sea animals like lobsters, sea turtles, and whales. Once they are stuck in place, they are unable to move around on their own.

Habitat

Rocky shores

Diet

Plankton

Lifespan

8-20 years

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

Lady Crab

Ovalipes ocellatus

Lady crab often bury themselves completely in sand. They are distinctive because of the paddles on their hind legs.

Habitat

Sandy seafloor

Diet

Fish, crabs, mollusks

Lifespan

Unknown

Location
of origin

Petit Cap, NB

Rock Crab

Cancer irroratus

Rock crabs are an important prey item for lobster. They are commercially harvested for lobster bait and human consumption.

Habitat

Sand, gravel, or rocky areas on the ocean floor (depths 0 to 750 m)

Diet

Mollusks, crustaceans, plants, snails, and small fish

Lifespan

8 years

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

,

Mollusks

From the graceful glide of squids to the steady amble of snails, mollusks bring a touch of elegance to the marine world. These soft-bodied marvels, protected by stunning shells or showcasing their vivid colours, are true wonders of adaptation and diversity. Mollusks, ranging from tiny clams to the colossal octopus, play a crucial role in aquatic environments, each with its unique tale of resilience and ecological significance.

American Oyster

Crassostrea virginica

American oysters are large, pear-shaped bi-valves with a rough shell pattern. Some can produce pearls, though they aren't considered valuable. They are also a common aquaculture species.

Habitat

Firm ocean bottoms and stuck to each other in oyster reef structures (depths 3 to 12 m)

Diet

Filter-feeder, plankton, algae

Lifespan

20 years

Location
of origin

Touch tank

Atlantic Scallop

Placopecten magellanicus

Unlike some other bivalves, scallops can open and shut their top and bottom shells quickly to "swim" away from predators. Scallops have hundreds of small eyes lining the edge of their shells.

Habitat

Sandy or rocky areas on the ocean floor

Diet

Plankton

Lifespan

20 years

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

Blue Mussel

Mytilus edulis

Adult blue mussels are sessile, they remain in the same place and filter-feed. They are a common aquaculture species.

Habitat

Firm structures on seafloor

Diet

Plankton, algae

Lifespan

12 years

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

Moon Snail

Lunatia heros

Moon snails are a large predatory snail species. They attack their prey by enveloping them with their foot and boring a hole into the prey's shell.

Habitat

Gravelly, muddy, or sandy seafloor (depths 30-75 m)

Diet

Bivalves and other mollusks

Lifespan

2-7 years

Location
of origin

Neguac, NB & Cap-Pelé, NB

Periwinkle

Littorina littorea

Periwinkles are a very common snail to find at the beach. They're often found in the intertidal zone, and can withstand long periods away from water.

Habitat

Intertidal zone and rocky seafloor (up to 40 m)

Diet

Algae

Lifespan

3-5 years

Location
of origin

New Brunswick Aquarium (Shippagan, NB)

Soft-Shell Clam

Mya arenaria

Soft-shell clams are a bivalve species that bury themselves in sediment. Their shells are much softer than other clam species, like the quahog.

Habitat

Muddy or sandy seafloor from intertidal to 70m depths.

Diet

Plankton, algae

Lifespan

7-12 years

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

,

Echinoderms & Cnidarians

Dive into the world of Echinoderms and Cnidarians, where starfish light up the ocean floor and jellyfish dance through the waters with mesmerizing grace. Echinoderms, with their radial symmetry and regenerative powers, and Cnidarians, known for their stinging tentacles and pulsating movements, are fascinating studies in marine resilience and beauty. These creatures, from the spiny urchins to the delicate anemones, play vital roles in their ecosystems, captivating us with their survival strategies and their vital part in the ocean’s balance.

Frilled Anemone

Metridium senile

Frilled anemones have long tube-like bodies with many fine tentacles on top. Though they are often found stuck to rocks or wharf pilings, they can move around on their own.

Habitat

Rocky structures (depths up to 150m)

Diet

Plankton, fish

Lifespan

11-20 years

Location
of origin

New Brunswick Aquarium (Shippagan, NB)

,
Green Sea Urchin

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

Sea urchins are covered in prickly spines and hundreds of small tubed 'feet'. Their feet have suction cups to grip their food and move around.

Habitat

Shallow rocky seafloor

Diet

Algae, kelp

Lifespan

20-25 years

Location
of origin

New Brunswick Aquarium (Shippagan, NB)

Sand Dollar

Echinarachnius parma

Sand dollars are flat and covered in tiny spines. They use these spines to crawl around and bury themselves in the sand.

Habitat

Sandy seafloor

Diet

Crustacean larvae, small copepods, algae

Lifespan

6-10 years

Location
of origin

Northumberland Strait

Star Fish

Asterias rubens

The star fish uses the thousands of tiny tube feet beneath each of its five arms to walk around and catch prey.

Habitat

Gravelly, rocky seafloor in depths from intertidal to 650m.

Diet

Mollusks, small crustaceans, dead fish

Lifespan

7-8 years

Location
of origin

Pointe-du-Chêne, NB

Fish

From the striking Striped bass navigating the estuaries to the majestic sharks dominating the open sea, fish showcase an incredible diversity of forms, behaviours, and adaptations. These gilled guardians are not just mere inhabitants of the blue depths; they are crucial in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, each species weaving its unique story in the tapestry of ocean life.

Cunner (Perch)

Tautogolabrus adspersus

Cunners are a wrasse with an oblong body and pointed head. They are a coastal fish that live around wharves, shipwrecks, and rock formations.

Habitat

Inshore waters (depths from 10 to 128 m)

Diet

Molluscs, crustaceans, other fish

Lifespan

6 years

Location
of origin

Neguac, NB

Mummichog

Fundulus heteroclitus

Mummichogs, also known as Atlantic Killifish, are small fish that live very close to shore, often in estuaries, salt marshes, or tidal creeks.

Habitat

Coastal waters

Diet

Plants, crustaceans, mollusks, fish eggs, small fish

Lifespan

4 years

Location
of origin

Richibucto, NB

Ocean Pout

Macrozoarces americanus

The ocean pout has a long eel-like body with a large head. The ocean pout's blood has antifreeze proteins that allows them to survive in cold waters.

Habitat

Sandy, muddy, or rocky seafloor (depths from 10 to 210 m)

Diet

Mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, fish

Lifespan

Unknown

Location
of origin

Neguac, NB

Rock Gunnel

Pholis gunnellus

Rock gunnels are a ray-finned fish. They have a similar body shape to eels and can grow up to 30 cm in length.

Habitat

Rocky seafloor from intertidal to depths of 100m

Diet

Small crustaceans, polychaetes, mollusks, and fish eggs

Lifespan

5 years

Location
of origin

Murray Corner, NB

Sea Raven

Hemitripterus americanus

Sea ravens vary in color from bright red to reddish purple to yellowish brown. Their head and dorsal fins have a scruffy appearance.

Habitat

Rocky seafloor

Diet

Mollusks, crustaceans, and fish

Lifespan

9 to 15 years

Location
of origin

Neguac, NB

Shorthorn Sculpin

Myoxocephalus scorpius

Sculpin are a bottom-dwelling fish that have a large head and large mouth. They look similar to the sea raven but lack the scruffy-looking head and dorsal fins.

Habitat

Gravelly or sandy seafloor

Diet

Mollusks, crustaceans, small fish

Lifespan

9 to 15 years

Location
of origin

Neguac, NB & Val-Comeau, NB

Striped Bass

Roccus saxatilis

Striped bass are anadromous species, meaning they live in the ocean and return to freshwater to spawn.

Habitat

Inshore waters

Diet

Fish, crabs, squid

Lifespan

30 years

Location
of origin

Shediac, NB

Tomcod

Microgadus tomcod

Tomcod, also known as frostfish or winter cod, is a type of cod fish. They are anadromous fish, meaning they live in saltwater and return to freshwater to spawn.

Habitat

Mouths of streams or estuaries

Diet

Crustaceans, small mollusks, and small fish

Lifespan

4 years

Location
of origin

Cap-Pelé, NB

Winter flounder

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Winter flounder are born with eyes on both sides of their head. As juveniles, they settle to the ocean floor and their left eye migrates to the right side of their body.

Habitat

Muddy or sandy seafloor

Diet

Small invertebrates, shrimp, mollusks, fish

Lifespan

15 to 18 years

Location
of origin

New Brunswick Aquarium (Shippagan, NB)

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