Lobster

Lobsters were a type of crustacean that could be found in the Realms.

History
In 1374 DR, a false Temple of Mystra in Wheloon kept water barrels full of live crabs, lobsters, and shrimp to feed their aquatic otyugh guardian.

Lobsters were once considered to be one of the great delicacies of the Sword Coast North, but by the late 15 century DR few people in Luskan sought to trap them.

Species

 * Giant lobster: A monstrously sized species of lobster.
 * Rock lobster: A species of lobster endemic to the Sea of Moving Ice. First discovered underneath a dock, this species was named for their coloration resembling rocks in their habitats, which gave them a natural form of camouflage.
 * Star lobster:A species of lobster endemic to Firedrake Bay.

Habitats
Lobsters were known to be found in the Dragon Reach, the Sea of Fallen Stars, the Sea of Swords, the Trackless Sea,  and the Celestial Sea.

Beyond the Prime Material plane, large lobsters could be found in Blibdoolpoolp's realm in the Elemental Plane of Water. In the Astral Plane, lobsters could be found in the Living Sea.

Relationships
Lobsters in Serôs often had antagonistic relationships with moray eels and octopi.

Large lobsters could typically be found inside the temple complexes of Blibdoolpoolp, which often had a lobster motif.

Usages
Lobsters were fished for as a source of food by a variety of people, such as the inhabitants of Ravens Bluff, Velen, and the giants of Maelstrom. Fishermen from Miyama Province were known to fish for them around the island of Marujima.

The fishing for lobsters was so common that there were traps specifically designed for capturing them, known as lobster traps. Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold these for around 5 gold pieces.

Restaurants in the Realms that were known to serve lobsters included The Painted Boat near Ravens Bluff and the Stonecutter's Solace in Port Llast.

Aquatic creatures known to prey upon lobsters included merfolk and tako.

Rumors & Legends
In the land of Chult, legends claimed that a tribe of human fishermen named the Aldani overfished a river until no lobsters remained and as punishment Ubtao transformed them into lobster-like creatures.

Trivia
The apparatus of Kwalish resembled a lobster.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Last Threshold
 * Realms of Valor, "Grandfather's Toys"
 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter: Storm King's Thunder
 * Baldur's Gate II: The Black Pits II – Gladiators of Thay • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
 * Baldur's Gate II: The Black Pits II – Gladiators of Thay • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
 * Baldur's Gate II: The Black Pits II – Gladiators of Thay • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms