Lobsters are not super common as toys, at least not as produced by major manufacturers as realistic figures recognizable at the species level. Most of them that have been made (AAA, Safari Ltd., CollectA, Kaiyodo) represent the Maine lobster, Homarus americanus. In 2021, Papo extended its ever-growing collection of arthropods with a European lobster (H. gammarus) in its Marine Life line. This is only the second figure of this species to be made, following a figure by Epoch that was probably released in the early 2000s (see last image). Papo did not market this figure specifically as a European lobster, but the color and Papo’s predilection for making local fauna supports the identification.
The European lobster is a large crustacean, measuring up to 60 cm in length. It occurs in the Northeast Atlantic, from northern Norway south to the Azores and Morocco, including the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. It is a benthic species, living on the continental shelf at depths of 0-150 meters (usual range 0-50 meters). The European lobster is a predator on benthic invertebrates, and is itself eaten, as it is an important commercial species in Europe and North Africa.
The Papo figure measures 9.5 cm in length; the body length is about 8.0 cm, putting it at a scale of 1:7.5 for a maximum-sized specimen. The sculpt is very well done, with demarcations at all of the (at least important and obvious) sclerite junctures. The two claws appear to be the same size, which would be a minor error, as H. gammarus has asymmetrical claws, a larger claw (‘crusher’) for crushing prey and a smaller claw (‘cutter’) for holding and tearing prey. Both pairs of antennae are present, and the rings along the larger antennae are textured.
The paint job has a gloss finish. The main dorsal color is a deep gray-blue with orange highlights, which is accurate for this species. While there are rare blue morphs of H. americanus, that species is generally a deep, dark red-brown to blue-green in color, while H. gammarus is more commonly blue. The underside of the claws are cream-colored, which is also accurate for this species.
Overall, this is an impressive offering by Papo and a must for collectors of interesting taxa and marine life. This was Papo’s second crustacean, following their edible crab, and already this early in 2022 they have released a hermit crab and shrimp. The Epoch figure still shows up on eBay, and is not impossible to get, but this Papo figure might be more accessible (and cheaper) for collectors, especially in Europe and the USA.
Comparison of H. gammarus figures by Papo (left) and Epoch (right):
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A really nice sculpt and paint job. And it also looks like a great toy with those long antennas.