Lobsters have a total of 10 legs. This includes 8 walking legs and 2 front legs that are modified into large claws or pincers. The claws are considered legs biologically, so lobsters belong to the order Decapoda, meaning "ten- footed." The 8 other legs are used primarily for walking. Additionally, lobsters have smaller appendages called pleopods or swimmerets on the underside of their bodies, which aid in swimming but are not counted as walking legs