Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804)
Caribbean spiny lobster
Panulirus argus
photo by FAO

Family:  Palinuridae (spiny lobsters)
Max. size:  45 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 15 years
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 90 m
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Longevity from Ref. 129472 (Supplementary material). Occurs at depths down to 90 m, perhaps even deeper; usually inhabits shallow waters and found among rocks, on reefs, eelgrass beds or in any habitat that provides protection. The species is gregarious and migratory. Females move to deeper water for spawning and there are mass migrations in the autumn when the animals, in single files up to 50 individuals, move in a certain direction in daytime, each animal having body contact with the next through the antennae; In the northern part of its range, larvae are found mainly from June to December (Ref. 4).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 03 December 2009 Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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