As a marine biologist with a focus on crustacean studies, I have spent a significant amount of time researching and observing the life cycle of lobsters. It's a common misconception that lobsters are immortal, but the truth is a bit more nuanced. Let's delve into the fascinating world of lobster biology to understand their aging process and mortality.
Lobsters, like all living organisms, are subject to the natural process of aging, but their aging process is quite unique. They do not exhibit the typical signs of aging that many other species do. For instance, they do not slow down or become less fertile as they get older. Instead, they continue to grow and reproduce throughout their lives, which is one of the reasons why the myth of their immortality has persisted.

The key to understanding lobster longevity lies in their cellular biology. Unlike human cells, which have a finite number of times they can divide due to the presence of telomeres, lobster cells can divide indefinitely without showing the signs of aging that telomere shortening would cause. This is due to an enzyme called telomerase, which helps to maintain the length of telomeres, allowing lobster cells to divide without the typical aging-related degradation.

However, this does not mean that lobsters are immune to death. They can and do die from various causes, including disease, predation, and environmental factors. The quote from Marina Koren, as published in Smithsonian Magazine in 2013, is accurate in stating that lobsters can't live forever, but they do keep growing until they die. This growth is a result of their unique molting process.

Molting is a critical part of a lobster's life cycle. As they grow, they must shed their exoskeleton to allow for further growth. This process is both energy-intensive and dangerous, as they are vulnerable to predators while their new shell is forming. The larger a lobster gets, the more difficult and resource-intensive this process becomes. Eventually, the lobster may reach a size where the energy required to molt successfully outweighs the benefits, leading to a situation where the lobster can no longer grow.

Regarding the age of lobsters, it is indeed challenging to determine. While some large lobsters have been estimated to be up to 60 years old, as mentioned in the Wikipedia entry, this is not an exact science. The difficulty lies in the fact that lobsters do not have growth rings or other easily identifiable markers that can be used to determine their age. Researchers often have to rely on various indirect methods, such as measuring the size of the lobster and comparing it to growth curves, to estimate their age.

In conclusion, while lobsters do not die of old age in the traditional sense, they are not immortal. They continue to grow and reproduce until they reach a point where the physical demands of their size and the risks associated with molting may lead to their death. Their unique cellular biology allows them to avoid many of the aging-related issues that other species face, but they are still subject to the laws of nature and the inevitability of mortality.

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According to Marina Koren, Smithsonian (2013): "Contrary to memes circulating online, lobsters can't live forever--but they do keep growing and growing until they die." And at Wikipedia: "Large lobsters are estimated to have aged up to 60 years old, although determining age is difficult.read more >>