What is a "Langastino Lobster"?

Question

A popular restuarant features them in a commerical and I wonder what the difference between that and a regular lobster is.

Answer 1

There's no such thing as "Langostino Lobster". There are Langostinos, and there are Lobsters, although Langostinos are sometimes referred to as "squat lobsters". Langostinos are not lobsters in any sense of the word.

Langostinos are small crustaceans that look sort of like a cross between a lobster, and a crab or shrimp, or maybe sort of like a crayfish. In many parts of the world they are referred to as prawns, but they are not really prawns either.

The FDA maintains an authoritative list of accepted seafood names. It's a pretty interesting read if you like that sort of thing. Here's what they have listed for Langostinos (see the FDA link below to see what they have to say about Lobsters):


Market Name: LANGOSTINO
Scientific Name: CERVIMUNIDA JOHNI
Common Name: SQUAT LOBSTER
Vernacular: LANGOSTINO AMARILLO

Market Name: LANGOSTINO
Scientific Name: MUNIDA GREGARIA
Common Name: SQUAT LOBSTER
Vernacular: NEW ZEALAND LANGOSTINO/LOBSTER KRILL

Market Name: LANGOSTINO
Scientific Name: PLEURONCODES MONODON
Common Name: COLORADO LANGOSTINO
Vernacular: LANGOSTINO COLORADO

Answer 2

They are not lobsters at all, although they share a number of characteristics; they are, in fact, more closely related to porcelain crabs, hermit crabs and then, more distantly, true crabs. Flesh from this animal is often commercially sold in restaurants as "langostino," or sometimes (in perhaps less than ethical situations) called merely "lobster" when incorporated in sea food dishes."
They have a taste similar to lobster therefore often marketed as small lobster.

Answer 3

Langostino is Spanish for prawn
http://www.bostonchefs.com/glossary/glossary_display_term.php?id=98

Answer 4

a HUGE lobster.

Answer 5

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