Order

Decapoda

  Class

Malacostraca

  No. of Genera in Ref.

  No. of Species in Ref.

55

  Environment

Fresh : No | Brackish : No | Marine : Yes

  Aquarium

  First Fossil Record

     

  Remark

Also Ref. 4. To about 50 cm. Marine, mostly shallow waters on coral and sand stone reefs, some species on soft substrata (Ref. 94508). Body tubular or slightly flattened dorsoventrally; carapace subcylindrical, laterally rounded or straight, surface spiny, pair of large frontal horns above eyes; rostrum absent or reduced to small spine; antennae very long, cylindrical, whip-like; legs without pincers and first pair not enlarged; posterior half of tail fan soft and flexible. This family includes 9 eastern central Atlantic representatives ranging in maximum size from 35 to 50 cm. Most are shallow-water forms (rarely extending beyond 100 m depth), living singly or in groups in coral reefs, rocky areas, or other habitats that offer protection; 2 species, Palinurus mauritanicus and P. charlestoni, are more common in deeper water, at depths greater than 300 m. Sexes easily distinguished by the position of the gonopores which are situated at the bases of the third and fifth legs in females and males, respectively. Members of this family are characterized by the eggs (usually orange in colour) being very small and numerous, and by having a relatively shorter carry time and very long planktonic larval stages (i.e. phyllosoma). The spiny lobster fishery in this region is confined mostly to the northern part (Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Cape Verde Islands), while farther south there is a local fishery of minor importance. All species are primarily caught with lobster pots, sometimes with nets, trawls, or by hand (Ref. 104052).

  Etymology

  Division

Marine

  Reproductive guild

  Typical activity level

  Main Ref.

  Coordinator