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Phylum
Arthropoda
Order
Decapoda - Lobsters
HAWAII
Family Enoplometopidae
Reef
Lobsters
Enoplometopus occidentalis
Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 20 feet
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Corsair, Oahu, 110 feet |
Kea'au, Oahu, 45 feet |
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RED REEF LOBSTER
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Hides in dark holes and
retreats when a light is shined upon it. Decorated with stiff yellow hairs.
The rare Bullseye Lobster is very similar. Up to 8 inches.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |

Hoplometopus
holthuisi
South Kona, Hawaii |
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BULLSEYE REEF LOBSTER
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Hides in dark holes and
rarely seen except along the Kona coast of Hawaii. Attains 5 inches.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |

Family Palinuridae
Spiny
Lobsters 'ULA Ise-ebi
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Spiny lobsters lack enlarged claws and are well-protected by
sharp forward-pointing spines. Large species are no longer common due to heavy
fishing pressure and disregard for local laws.
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Justitia longimanus
Mokapu Pinnacle, Oahu, 130 feet |
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LONG-HANDED SPINY LOBSTER
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A rare species from deep water.
Up to 8 inches. Collected for aquariums. Worldwide in warm
seas. |

Panulirus marginatus

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet
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Kaena Point, Oahu, 40 feet
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Juvenile, North Shore, Oahu, 10 feet
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Sharks Cove, Oahu |
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HAWAIIAN SPINY LOBSTER
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Purple and white banded tail and
black legs with a single white stripe. The most common species beyond the surf zone
into deep water. Attains 16 inches. Endemic to Hawaii. |

Panulirus penicillatus
Frigate Point, Midway Atoll, 30 feet
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Mala Wharf, Maui, 20 feet |
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TUFTED or GREEN SPINY LOBSTER
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A large, thick-bodied species inhabiting shallow reefs.
Bluish green with an orange-brown tail. Legs are striped with blue and white.
Attains 16 inches. Hawaii, Indo-Pacific & Eastern Pacific. |

Family
Scyllaridae
Slipper
Lobsters 'ULA PAPAPA Semi-ebi
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Slipper lobsters lack elongated antennae and claws. They
rely upon camouflage while resting within dark holes during the day and generally sit
motionless when approached at night.
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Arctides regalis
REGAL SLIPPER LOBSTER
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Locally common in at night
among ledges and caverns. Attains 7 inches. Hawaii, New
Caledonia, Easter Island, and Reunion. |

Parribacus antarcticus
Puako, Hawaii, 15 feet
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Typical habit, Kahe Point, Oahu, 35 feet |
Larva, Puako, Hawaii
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 80 feet |
Makai Pier, Waimanalo, Oahu, 10 feet |
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BROWN SLIPPER LOBSTER
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Common on shallow reefs at night.
Clings to the underside of large slabs or ledges by day. Its eyes appear to glow when lighted.
Usually less than 6 inches. Worldwide in warm seas. |

Scyllarides squammosus
Portlock, Oahu, 40 feet
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Shipwreck Beach, Lana'i, 60 feet |
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SCALY SLIPPER LOBSTER
| Uncommon in caverns & dark holes. Golden-brown with purple margins.
Attains 16 inches. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |

Scyllarides haanii
Puako, Hawaii, 15 feet |
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RIDGEBACK SLIPPER LOBSTER
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Rare in caverns & dark
holes. Body is very thick and inflated.
Color is orange with purple margins. Attains 20 inches.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |

Biarctus vitiensis
Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 30 feet |
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LOCUST LOBSTER
| Rare among caverns at night. Attains 2 inches. Hawaii
& the Indo-Pacific. |

EASTERN PACIFIC
Family Palinuridae
Panulirus californicus
Larva, Whites Cove, Catalina, California |
Long Point, Catalina, California, 25 feet |
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CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER
| Common on rocky reefs at scuba depths from central California to
Mexico. |

INDO-PACIFIC
JAPAN
CARIBBEAN
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