California Spiny Lobster
Panulirus interruptus
East Coast Rock Lobster
Panulirus homarus
About
The East Coast rock lobster is a spiny lobster of the Indo-Pacific coasts, found in surf-swept shallows among rocks. It typically measures 20 to 25 cm long, though it can reach up to 31 cm.
Also known as: scalloped spiny lobster
- Length
- 25 cm · max 31 cm
- Depth
- 1–5 m
Appearance
Most individuals are dark green, with fine texture in the grooves of the tail segments. Lobsters from the Arabian Peninsula and from southern Africa are red instead, with more pronounced ridges and bumps in those same grooves.
Habitat
Lives in shallow water, usually 1 to 5 metres deep, among rocks in the surf zone and sometimes in turbid water, occasionally down to 90 metres. Found from East Africa across the Indian Ocean to the Malay Archipelago, and along Pacific coasts to Japan, Australia and New Caledonia.
Did you know?
In South Africa, this lobster is one of the main foods of the Cape clawless otter.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
