Ryan Photographic - Palinuridae - Rock lobsters
Family Palinuridae
There around 60 species of spiny lobsters or rock lobsters in 13 genera. They differ from the "true" lobsters in many ways, most notably by the lack of any chelae (except tiny ones sometimes found on the fifth pair of walking legs in females) and by their possession of long spiny antennae. They also have a unique phyllosoma larval stage.
Like "true" lobsters the spiny lobsters are sought after food items, their tail typically having much more "meat" than the puny effort exhibited by true lobsters. As a result, in some parts of the world, they have been over-exploited. In New Zealand, where there are strict licensing requirements, a license can fetch up to NZ$4 million.
Rock lobsters live in rocky areas of temperate regions and in coral reefs in the tropics. They feed on other invertebrates. Some species can produce a "screech" when attacked using a stridulatory organ on their antennae which rubs against their head. This works just as well on soft, newly ecdysed individuals.
Some species gather in "trains" of over 50 individuals in a spawning migration during which they apparently use the Earth's magnetic field with which to navigate.
Jasus edwardsii Spiny lobster
Jasus edwardsii Spiny lobster. Fiordland, New Zealand
Jasus edwardsii Spiny lobster side on, Fiordland, New Zealand
Jasus edwardsii New Zealand rock lobster from above
Panulirus argus Caribbean spiny lobster
Panulirus argus Caribbean spiny lobster
Panulirus argus Caribbean spiny lobster at night Belize
Panulirus argus, Spiny lobster, Glover's Reef, Belize-2787
Panulirus argus, Spiny lobster, Glover's Reef, Belize-2789
Panulirus argus, Spiny lobster, Glover's Reef, Belize-2797
Panulirus guttatus Spotted spiny lobster
Panulirus guttatus Spotted spiny lobster
Panulirus inflatus Pinto spiny lobster,
Panulirus inflatus, Pinto spiny lobster, Sea of Cortez IMG_3122
Panulirus inflatus, Pinto spiny lobster, Sea of Cortez IMG_6656
Panulirus inflatus, Pinto spiny lobster, Sea of Cortez IMG_6658
Panulirus versicolor Painted rock lobster
Panulirus versicolor Painted rock lobster. This one is a juvenile.