Painted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Panulirus penicillatus
- Common name
- Painted Spiny Lobster
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Palinuridae
- Genus
- Panulirus
- Size
- 20–45 cm
- Depth
- 5–60 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, nocturnal, schooling
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Panulirus penicillatus reaches 45 m. Spiny lobster Indo-Pacific (Palinuridae). Rust to brown-orange, numerous brushy body spines. Tropical reef inhabitant 5-60 m. Nocturnal-spectacular coastal single-file processions (April-May). Generalist predator. Moderate fishing = LC. Highly observable during periodic migrations.
Photo of Painted Spiny Lobster
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Painted Spiny Lobster?
- Painted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) reaches 20–45 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Painted Spiny Lobster?
- Painted Spiny Lobster is found between 5–60 m deep.
- Is the Painted Spiny Lobster dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Painted Spiny Lobster?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Painted Spiny Lobster?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Panulirus
- Panulirus guttatus - Spotted spiny lobster
- Panulirus argus - Caribbean spiny lobster
- Panulirus interruptus - California Spiny Lobster
- Panulirus versicolor - Painted Spiny Lobster
- Panulirus ornatus - Ornate Spiny Lobster
Other species in the family Palinuridae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 210358)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2221640)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia