Mud Spiny Lobster

Panulirus polyphagus

Also known as: Banded Spiny Lobster, Long-whiskered Rock Lobster, Mud Rock Lobster, Mud Spiny Crawfish, Rock Lobster, Slipper Lobster

ALSO KNOWN AS

Banded Spiny Lobster
Long-whiskered Rock Lobster
Mud Rock Lobster
Mud Spiny Crawfish
Rock Lobster
Slipper Lobster

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2011

Add a photo

Mud Spiny Lobster adult, photographed at Home, India — @soorajsm · Home, India · January 20181 / 1

Overview

Found singly, or in small squads, during the day, hiding in recesses of the reef, dispersing at night, to feed over shallow, muddy bottoms and seagrass beds, around mouths of rivers and rocky reefs.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans, fish, and invertebrates.

Lobsters live in caves and crevices during the day, often several together, coming out at night to feed.
Sometimes caught in the torches of divers where they scuttle off back into the dark.
They do not have true claws, the soft and flexible tail is used for swimming rapidly backwards, for short distances to get away from danger.
Spiny lobsters are caught in baited lobster pots for gourmet dining.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: spots
Behaviour: hides loose groups nocturnal shelters in caves shelters in crevices solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Indo-Pacific
Country only · 1

LIVES IN

Found singly, or in small squads, during the day, hiding in recesses of the reef, dispersing at night, to feed over shallow, muddy bottoms and seagrass beds, around mouths of rivers and rocky reefs.

RANGE