Description: A slipper lobster, characterized by its enlarged, flattened, plate-like second antennae, which project forward from the head, and between which are located the small first antennae. Covered in a thick carapace which bears conspicuous tubercles. The body is divided into the cephalothorax, the abdomen, which is itself composed of 6 articulated segments, and the telson, which is the tail. The last abdominal segment bears modified pleopods which form the tail fan. It is a heavy, armoured looking lobster. The legs are comparatively small and slender.
Global Distribution: Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. View Map
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES
Size: Maximum length 45.0 cm TL; common length 36.0 cm TL; maximum carapace width 4.2 cm.
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Behavioural ecology: Mostly nocturnal; remains hidden during the day and comes out at night to forage. Gregarious.
Feeding habits: Feeds on molluscs, especially limpets.
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FISHERIES
Commercial interest: Commercial species. Caught occasionally by divers or with traps.
Conservation status: Data defficient.
Nutritional information & food safety:
REFERENCES
Direcção Regional de Pescas, Madeira.
Holthuis L. B. (1991). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 13. Marine Lobsters of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Species of Interest Known to date. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 292 pp.
IUCN (2014). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org
Llavalli K.L., Spanier E. (2007). The Biology and Fisheries of the Slipper Lobster. CRC Press, USA, 416 pp.
