WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

Scalloped Spiny Lobster

Panulirus homarus

Also known as: Marine Crayfish, Green Spiny Lobster, Rock Lobster, Sand Lobster, Scalloped Rock Lobster

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2011
Adult
@JarJar · Rock near Shahira Hotel, Sri Lanka · October 20131 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, or in small squads, during the day in caves and crevices, out at night foraging for food in turbid waters, of surf zones amongst rocks.
They feed on the brown mussel Perna Perna.
Juveniles often found wedged in corals with just the antenna showing.

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.

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How to identify

Pattern
stripes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in small squads, during the day in caves and crevices, out at night foraging for food in turbid waters, of surf zones amongst rocks.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumArthropoda
    3. classMalacostraca
    4. orderDecapoda
    5. familyPalinuridae
    6. genusPanulirus
    7. speciesPanulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Spiny Lobsters (Palinuridae)