Langoustines live in burrows that they dig in the mud at depths of 15 to 800 m.
They leave their homes at dawn and dusk to look for food: worms, crustaceans, molluscs, and so on. Like all crustaceans, as langoustines grow, they regularly shed their too-small shells to make another, bigger one.
Langoustines can reproduce starting in their second year. Mating always takes place after the female sheds her shell and before the new one forms. When carrying eggs on her abdomen, the female eats less frequently and so rarely leaves the burrow.
The female’s burrow contains holes to ensure optimal oxygenation of the eggs by facilitating the circulation of water. Incubation lasts 7 or 8 months, depending on the temperature of the water. At birth, the larvae allow themselves to drift in the open water for a few weeks before metamorphosing and taking on the morphology and lifestyle of the adult langoustine.
In 2008, langoustine fishers in the Bay of Biscay received recognition from an environmental NGO for their environmentally-friendly fishing method. Langoustines from the Bay of Biscay are usually sold alive.
