Invertebrates
European Spiny Lobster
Palinurus elephas · also called common spiny lobster, crawfish
In the beam of a diver’s torch on a Cornish reef, a European spiny lobster backs into a crevice, its long antennae sweeping the water like two thorny whips.
Overview
The European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas, is a Vulnerable, clawless lobster of rocky seabeds in the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Its spiny antennae, rasping sound, and leaf-like larva make it very different from the true lobsters, and its high value has led to heavy fishing.
A lobster with no claws
Instead of big pincers, the spiny lobster has a pair of very long, spiny antennae, which it uses to feel its way over the rocks at night and to ward off predators.
Status
Vulnerable, with stocks reduced by overfishing.
European Spiny Lobster: common questions
How is a spiny lobster different from a true lobster?
It has no large pincer claws, and instead has long, thick, spiny antennae that it uses for defence and sensing.
Can a spiny lobster make noise?
Yes, it can make a rasping sound by rubbing the base of its antennae against its shell, which is thought to scare off predators.
Why is it vulnerable?
Overfishing has reduced stocks across much of its range, and it grows slowly, so populations recover slowly.
Where is the European spiny lobster found?
It lives on rocky seabeds of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to Morocco.