Phylum Arthropoda

Order Decapoda - Lobsters

HAWAII

Family Enoplometopidae

Reef Lobsters

Enoplometopus occidentalis

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 20 feet

 

Corsair, Oahu, 110 feet

Kea'au, Oahu, 45 feet

RED REEF LOBSTER

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

BULLSEYE REEF LOBSTER

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

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.

Justitia longimanus

Mokapu Pinnacle, Oahu, 130 feet

LONG-HANDED SPINY LOBSTER

A rare species from deep water.  Up to 8 inches.  Collected for aquariums.  Worldwide in warm seas.

Panulirus marginatus   endemic.gif (1686 bytes)

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Kaena Point, Oahu, 40 feet

 

Juvenile, North Shore, Oahu, 10 feet

 

Sharks Cove, Oahu

   HAWAIIAN SPINY LOBSTER

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

Mala Wharf, Maui, 20 feet

TUFTED or GREEN SPINY LOBSTER

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

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.

Arctides regalis

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 25 feet

REGAL SLIPPER LOBSTER

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

 

Typical habit, Kahe Point, Oahu, 35 feet

Larva, Puako, Hawaii

 

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 80 feet

Makai Pier, Waimanalo, Oahu, 10 feet

BROWN SLIPPER LOBSTER

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

Slipper Lobster, Portlock, 40 feet

Portlock, Oahu, 40 feet

 

Shipwreck Beach, Lana'i, 60 feet

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

RIDGEBACK SLIPPER LOBSTER

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

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

CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER

Common on rocky reefs at scuba depths from central California to Mexico.


INDO-PACIFIC

 

 

 

 


JAPAN

 

 

 

 


CARIBBEAN

 

 

 

 

Text and photographs are copyrighted property of Keoki and Yuko Stender unless otherwise indicated.  No part of this website may be used without permission of the authors.  Images may not be used for any purpose without express permission of the photographers.