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How do lobsters and other aquatic invertebrates detect water currents?

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Meissner's corpuscle; mechanoreception — Mechanoreception In human skin, specialized nerve endings known as Meissner's corpuscles (or tactile corpuscles) are sensitive to touch. They are one of several different types of mechanoreceptors found in human skin.

Lobsters and various other aquatic invertebrates detect water currents primarily through specialized mechanoreceptors located on their body surfaces. In lobsters (Homarus), these water-displacement receptors are considered reminiscent of the lateral-line organs found in aquatic vertebrates.1

These receptors allow bottom-dwelling invertebrates to engage in rheotaxis, a behavior where the animal orients itself in relation to the direction of water flow in rivers or tidal currents. This sensory capability is often integrated with chemoreception; for instance, many predators detect the chemical presence of prey and use their current-sensing abilities to move against the flow (positive rheotaxis) to locate the source.1

Additionally, crustaceans possess various setae—hairlike processes projecting from the exoskeleton—that function as tactile sensors. When these setae are deflected by contact or movement, they relay information to the nervous system, assisting the animal in perceiving its immediate physical environment. While the exact mechanism remains unclear, some crustaceans also exhibit a remarkable sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure changes, which may help them monitor water depth during tidal cycles.23