83
above eyes. Antennae are very long and rather thick. Legs are without true pincers
and first pair is not or only slightly longer than the following legs (Chan 1998b).
Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875)
It is a species of spiny lobster. Species is commonly called crayfish or crays in both
Australia and New Zealand. The species lives in crevices of the rocky shores and
among algae at depths between 5 and 200 m. Soft shelled specimen are occasionally
caught in December and January. Maximum total body length is 58 cm (males), and
43 cm (females); maximum carapace lengths 23.5 cm (males), 18 cm (females);
minimum legal carapace lengths 10 cm (males), and 9 cm (females). The species is
usually caught with baited lobster pots, sometimes obtained by trawling and by diving. It is distributed in New Zealand, from Three Kings Islands (north west of-the
northern tip of North Island) south to the Auckland Islands, also found at the
Chatham Islands; most common off the south west part of South Island, and the east
coast south of East Cape (Holthuis 1991).
Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Carapace of this species is rounded and spiny and sometimes with branchiostegal
areas slightly inflated. Rostrum is absent, anterior margin armed with four regularly
spaced large spines other than frontal horns. This species lives in reef areas with
sand in the surf zone and sometimes also in turbid waters at depths from 1 to 5 m. It
is fished by hand, with traps, gill nets, cast nets and baited lines. It is widely distributed in the Indo-pacific from the eastern coast of Africa to Japan, Australia, and
Marquesas Archipelago.
Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793)
It is known as “muddy spiny lobster”. It has a maximum body length of 40 cm.
Body length is commonly between 20 and 25 cm. It is mainly found on muddy bottoms in turbid waters near river mouths at depths from 3 to 90 m. Unlike other spiny
lobster, this species is mainly taken by trawling, sometimes also by set nets, and
seines, but rarely enters traps. Commercially and economically importance is mostly
from the Gulf of Thailand. It is sold fresh or frozen in local markets and mounted
dry specimens are sold as souvenirs to tourists. It is distributed in Indo-Pacific from
Pakistan to India, Thailand, Vet Nam, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea and northern Australia Indo-pacific from the eastern coast of Africa to the
Red Sea, Japan, Australia, French Polynesia, Hawaii and Offshore islands near the
western coasts of America (Chan 1998b).
Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius, 1798)
It is known as “ornate spiny lobster”. It usually occurs at depths from 1 to 10 m, but
can be found to a depth of 200 m. It is found in calm areas of coral and rocky reefs
or reef slopes, sometimes also found on muddy substrate in river moths with turbid
water. It lives solitary or in pairs. It is fished mostly by divers, sometimes by hand
nets and trawls. It is sold mostly fresh or frozen in local markets. It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Japan, Australia. It is also reported to
enter the Mediterranean from Red Sea (Chan 1998b).
2.3 Lobsters
above eyes. Antennae are very long and rather thick. Legs are without true pincers
and first pair is not or only slightly longer than the following legs (Chan 1998b).
Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875)
It is a species of spiny lobster. Species is commonly called crayfish or crays in both
Australia and New Zealand. The species lives in crevices of the rocky shores and
among algae at depths between 5 and 200 m. Soft shelled specimen are occasionally
caught in December and January. Maximum total body length is 58 cm (males), and
43 cm (females); maximum carapace lengths 23.5 cm (males), 18 cm (females);
minimum legal carapace lengths 10 cm (males), and 9 cm (females). The species is
usually caught with baited lobster pots, sometimes obtained by trawling and by diving. It is distributed in New Zealand, from Three Kings Islands (north west of-the
northern tip of North Island) south to the Auckland Islands, also found at the
Chatham Islands; most common off the south west part of South Island, and the east
coast south of East Cape (Holthuis 1991).
Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Carapace of this species is rounded and spiny and sometimes with branchiostegal
areas slightly inflated. Rostrum is absent, anterior margin armed with four regularly
spaced large spines other than frontal horns. This species lives in reef areas with
sand in the surf zone and sometimes also in turbid waters at depths from 1 to 5 m. It
is fished by hand, with traps, gill nets, cast nets and baited lines. It is widely distributed in the Indo-pacific from the eastern coast of Africa to Japan, Australia, and
Marquesas Archipelago.
Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793)
It is known as “muddy spiny lobster”. It has a maximum body length of 40 cm.
Body length is commonly between 20 and 25 cm. It is mainly found on muddy bottoms in turbid waters near river mouths at depths from 3 to 90 m. Unlike other spiny
lobster, this species is mainly taken by trawling, sometimes also by set nets, and
seines, but rarely enters traps. Commercially and economically importance is mostly
from the Gulf of Thailand. It is sold fresh or frozen in local markets and mounted
dry specimens are sold as souvenirs to tourists. It is distributed in Indo-Pacific from
Pakistan to India, Thailand, Vet Nam, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea and northern Australia Indo-pacific from the eastern coast of Africa to the
Red Sea, Japan, Australia, French Polynesia, Hawaii and Offshore islands near the
western coasts of America (Chan 1998b).
Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius, 1798)
It is known as “ornate spiny lobster”. It usually occurs at depths from 1 to 10 m, but
can be found to a depth of 200 m. It is found in calm areas of coral and rocky reefs
or reef slopes, sometimes also found on muddy substrate in river moths with turbid
water. It lives solitary or in pairs. It is fished mostly by divers, sometimes by hand
nets and trawls. It is sold mostly fresh or frozen in local markets. It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Japan, Australia. It is also reported to
enter the Mediterranean from Red Sea (Chan 1998b).
2.3 Lobsters