Palinurus elephas
Common spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas )
The Common spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas ), also known as the European lobster, is a species in the family of crawfish. It is offered as seafood at the fish markets in the Mediterranean.
Features
The maximum body length of these Langustenart is 50 centimeters. The second pair of antennae is more than body length. The walking leg pairs I to III are without scissors. The ground color is reddish brown to purple brown. The antennae are reddish brown and yellow banded. Juveniles have a yellow longitudinal band on the body top and yellow antennas.
Dissemination
It can be found in the eastern Atlantic from the south-western Norway to Morocco and is also found in the Mediterranean. However, in the Mediterranean it is absent in the southeastern part. It is also found on the coasts of the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
Habitat
The Ordinary lobster lives on rocky bottoms in water depths from 5 to 160 meters. In the cold water is usually 10 to 30 meters in front, warm deeper.