Reef lobster

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Reef lobsters
Temporal range: 279–0  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Middle Permian - present
Enoplometopus antillensis01.jpg
Enoplometopus antillensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Astacidea
Superfamily: Enoplometopoidea
De Saint Laurent, 1988
Family: Enoplometopidae
De Saint Laurent, 1988
Genus: Enoplometopus
A. Milne Edwards, 1862
Type species
Enoplometopus pictus
Synonyms

HoplometopusHolthuis, 1983

Reef lobsters, Enoplometopus, are a genus of small lobsters that live on reefs in the Indo-Pacific, Caribbean and warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean. [2]

Contents

Description

Species of Enoplometopus occur from coral reefs at depths of less than 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) [3] to rocky reefs at depths of 300 m (980 ft). [4] They are brightly coloured, with stripes, rings, or spots. They are typically mainly red, orange, purplish and white. [2] Reef lobsters are small (depending on species, up to 10–13 centimetres or 4–5 inches), nocturnal (spending the day in caves or crevices), and very timid. [2] The species can be distinguished by their colouration and morphology. [2]

Fossil Eryma mandelslohi Eryma mandelslohi (Krebs) - Oberer Brauner Jura - Bissingen unter Teck.jpg
Fossil Eryma mandelslohi

As a result of their bright colours, they are popular in the aquarium trade, and unregulated collection combined with destruction of coral reefs may threaten some species. Due to uncertainty over the impact of these potential threats, the majority are considered data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. [5]

Reef lobsters are distinguished from clawed lobsters (family Nephropidae) by having full chelae (claws) only on the first pair of pereiopods, the second and third pairs being only subchelate (where the last segment of the appendage can press against a short projection from the penultimate one). Clawed lobsters have full claws on the first three pereiopods. Males, unlike those of nephropoid lobsters, have an extra lobe on the second pleopod, which is assumed to have some function in reproduction. Reef lobsters have a shallow cervical groove while clawed lobsters have a deep cervical groove. [6]

Although there is no fossil record of reef lobsters, there is some evidence that they may be related to the extinct genus Eryma which lived from the Permo-Triassic to the late Cretaceous. [7]

Species

The genus contains the following species: [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astacidea</span> Infraorder of crustaceans

Astacidea is an infraorder of decapod crustaceans including lobsters, crayfish, and their close relatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape lobster</span> Species of crustacean

The Cape lobster, Homarinus capensis, is a species of small lobster that lives off the coast of South Africa, from Dassen Island to Haga Haga. Only a few dozen specimens are known, mostly regurgitated by reef-dwelling fish. It lives in rocky reefs, and is thought to lay large eggs that have a short larval phase, or that hatch directly as a juvenile. The species grows to a total length of 10 cm (3.9 in), and resembles a small European or American lobster; it was previously included in the same genus, Homarus, although it is not very closely related to those species, and is now considered to form a separate, monotypic genus – Homarinus. Its closest relatives are the genera Thymops and Thymopides.

<i>Metanephrops challengeri</i> Species of crustacean

Metanephrops challengeri is a species of slim, pink lobster that lives around the coast of New Zealand. It is typically 13–18 cm (5–7 in) long and weighs around 100 g (3.5 oz). The carapace and abdomen are smooth, and adults are white with pink and brown markings and a conspicuous pair of long, slim claws. M. challengeri lives in burrows at depths of 140–640 m (460–2,100 ft) in a variety of sediments. Although individuals can live for up to 15 years, the species shows low fecundity, where small numbers of larvae hatch at an advanced stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polychelidae</span> Family of crustaceans

The family Polychelidae contains thirty-eight extant species of blind, benthic lobster-like crustaceans. They are found throughout the world's tropical, sub-tropical and temperate oceans, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Irish Sea.

Metanephrops boschmai, known as the Bight lobster, Bight scampi or Boschma's scampi, is a species of lobster endemic to Western Australia.

<i>Scyllarus arctus</i> Species of slipper lobster

Scyllarus arctus is a species of slipper lobster which lives in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is uncommon in British and Irish waters, but a number of English-language vernacular names have been applied, including small European locust lobster, lesser slipper lobster and broad lobster.

<i>Polycheles typhlops</i> Species of crustacean

Polycheles typhlops is a species of blind, deep water decapod crustacean with a cosmopolitan distribution. It is "one of the dominant and most characteristic crustaceans in deep-sea communities of the Mediterranean Sea".

<i>Scyllarides latus</i> Species of crustacean

Scyllarides latus, the Mediterranean slipper lobster, is a species of slipper lobster found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is edible and highly regarded as food, but is now rare over much of its range due to overfishing. Adults may grow to 1 foot (30 cm) long, are camouflaged, and have no claws. They are nocturnal, emerging from caves and other shelters during the night to feed on molluscs. As well as being eaten by humans, S. latus is also preyed upon by a variety of bony fish. Its closest relative is S. herklotsii, which occurs off the Atlantic coast of West Africa; other species of Scyllarides occur in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific. The larvae and young animals are largely unknown.

<i>Scyllarides</i> Genus of crustaceans

Scyllarides is a genus of slipper lobsters.

<i>Parribacus japonicus</i> Species of crustacean

Parribacus japonicus, the Japanese mitten lobster, is a species of slipper lobster. Though the common name for this lobster is the Japanese mitten lobster, it is locally called zōri-ebi (ゾウリエビ) – zōri denoting the Japanese sandal it resembles, and ebi meaning shrimp or lobster.

Eunephrops manningi, the banded lobster, is a species of lobster found in the West Indies. It was named in 1974 by carcinologist Lipke Holthuis after his friend and fellow carcinologist Raymond B. Manning.

Scyllarus pygmaeus is a species of slipper lobster that lives in shallow water in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. It grows to a length of 55 mm (2.2 in), which is too small for it to be fished for food. The juvenile form was first described in 1885, with the description of the adult following in 1888 as a result of the Challenger expedition.

Galearctus avulsus is a species of slipper lobster that lives around New Caledonia. It was described in 2011, having previously been included in Galearctus kitanovirosus. It differs from the other species of the genus Galearctus most noticeably in the shape of a groove on the sternum.

<i>Neoglyphea</i> Genus of crustaceans

Neoglyphea inopinata is a species of glypheoid lobster, a group thought long extinct before Neoglyphea was discovered. It is a lobster-like animal, up to around 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in length, although without claws. It is only known from 17 specimens, caught at two sites – one at the entrance to Manila Bay in the Philippines, and one in the Timor Sea, north of Australia. Due to the small number of specimens available, little is known about the species, but it appears to live up to five years, with a short larval phase. A second species, previously included in Neoglyphea, is now placed in a separate genus, Laurentaeglyphea.

<i>Laurentaeglyphea</i> Genus of crustaceans

Laurentaeglyphea neocaledonica is a species of glypheoid lobster, and the only species in the genus Laurentaeglyphea. It is known from a single specimen collected on a guyot in the Coral Sea between Australia and New Caledonia. It is thought to be an active predator with colour vision, unlike its nearest living relative, Neoglyphea inopinata.

Thymopides is a genus of deep-water lobsters, comprising the two species Thymopides grobovi and Thymopides laurentae.

<i>Palinurus charlestoni</i> Species of crustacean

Palinurus charlestoni is a species of spiny lobster which is endemic to the waters of Cape Verde. It grows to a total length of 50 cm (20 in) and can be distinguished from other Atlantic species in the genus by the pattern of horizontal bands on its legs. It was discovered by French fishermen in 1963, and has been the subject of small-scale fishery since. It is thought to be overexploited, and is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Nephropides caribaeus is a species of lobster, the only species in the genus Nephropides. It is found in western parts of the Caribbean Sea, from Belize to Colombia. It grows to a total length of around 170 mm (6.7 in), and is covered in conspicuous tubercles.

<i>Ibacus ciliatus</i> Species of crustacean

Ibacus ciliatus is a species of slipper lobster from the north-west Pacific Ocean.

<i>Enoplometopus antillensis</i> Species of lobster from the Western Atlantic

Enoplometopus antillensis is a species of reef lobster endemic to warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It is found at depths of 5–201 m (16–659 ft) in rocky and coral reefs, where it hides in small crevices. Dwarf reef lobsters are prized in the home aquarium hobby for their bright colors and small size.

References

  1. L. B. Holthuis (1983). "Notes on the genus Enoplometopus, with descriptions of a new subgenus and two new species (Crustacea Decapoda, Axiidae)" (PDF). Zoologische Mededelingen . 56 (22): 281–298, pls. 1–4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Helmut Debelius (2001). Crustacea: Guide of the World. Frankfurt am Main: IKAN, Unterwasserarchiv. pp. 44–54, 200–205. ISBN   978-3-931702-74-8.
  3. Chan, T.Y. & Wahle, R. (2011). "Enoplometopus daumi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T184985A8340177. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T184985A8340177.en .
  4. Chan, T.Y. & Wahle, R. (2011). "Enoplometopus gracilipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T185005A8345117. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T185005A8345117.en .
  5. T. Y. Chan & R. Wahle (2009). "Version 2011.1". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . International Union for Conservation of Nature . Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  6. Michèle de Saint Laurent (1988). "Enoplometopoidea, nouvelle superfamille de Crustacés Décapodes Astacidea". Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences . III. 307: 59–62.
  7. F. R. Schram & C. J. Dixon (2004). "Decapod phylogeny: addition of fossil evidence to a robust morphological cladistic data set" (PDF). Bulletin of the Mizunami Fossil Museum . 31: 1–19.
  8. J. Poupin (2003). "Reef lobsters Enoplometopus A. Milne Edwards, 1862 from French Polynesia, with a brief revision of the genus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Enoplometopidae)" (PDF). Zoosystema . 25 (4): 643–664.