Ah, you’ve noticed the tiny, feathery paddles under its tail. Those are called swimmerets, and they don’t count as legs. They’re more like little fins or oars used for swimming and, for females, holding eggs.
A lobster also has five pairs of mouth parts that look like tiny legs—they’re called maxillipeds. But we don’t count those either; they’re more like a built-in food processor near its mouth.
So, the leg count is strict: ten legs total—eight walking legs plus two claw legs. The rest is cool gear, not feet.
Anatomy of a Lobster Explained - Tynemouth Aquarium
