eastern cape scuba diving
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Scientific name: |
Panulirus homarus |
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Common name: |
East coast rock lobster |
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Taxonomy |
Phyulm |
Sub Phylum |
Class |
Sub Class |
Order |
Sub Order |
Family |
Sub Family |
Genus |
Species |
Arthropoda |
Crustacea |
Malacostraca |
Eumalacostraca |
Decapoda |
Pleocyemata |
Panulidae |
Not defined |
Palinuridae |
Panulirus homarus |
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Short Description:
The East Coast rock lobster is brick red with orange spines and blue-green markings on the head.There are two horns next to their eyes but unlike other species, there are no spines between these horns.
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Identification features: |
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Size: |
250mm |
Behaviour: |
Is nocturnal and highly gregarious. In the daytime they hide in small caves and crevices in reefs or under coral |
Distribution: |
Occurs from central Mozambique and Madagascar to Port Elizabeth.Endemic |
Diet: |
The most important prey of the East Coast rock lobster is the brown mussel (Perna perna). They sever the byssus threads that hold the mussel and can crush the thin edge of the shell using their mouthparts. They also feed on limpets and will scavenge on the seabed. |
Depth: |
1-36m |
Habitat: |
They inhabit rocky reefs in the surf |
Reference: |
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Similar Species: |
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Database Statistics
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eastern cape scuba diving