Palinurus (crustacean)

Palinurus is a genus of lobsters in the family Palinuridae, native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the western Indian Ocean. A 110 million year old fossil, recognizable as a member of the genus Palinurus, was discovered in a quarry in El Espinal, Chiapas state, Mexico, in 1995 and named P. palacesi.

Classification of Palinurus

Habit and habitat

Palinurus is a marine crustacean.

Distribution

It is found in Europe and Asia.

Comments on Palinurus

• Commonly called as marine rock lobster or spiny lobster.
• Palinurus Body is either not compressed or is dorsoventrally compressed and differentiated into cephalothorax and abdomen.
• It differs from other crayfishes and lobsters in having a small spine-like rostrum over cephalothorax.
• Cephalic appendages are antennae, antennules and eyes. Antenna sac is absent and antennae are much elongated.
• Abdominal appendages are fan-like, but the first abdominal segment is without appendages.
• The abdomen is long and extended and ending in a tail fan.
• The pleura of second abdominal segment do not usually overlap those in front.
• Meat of the lobster is very delicious and very much sought after.
• Larva is called as Phyllosoma, which is a broad and thin schizopod larva.

Special features

The rock lobster produces a peculiar sound like creaming of leather by rubbing antennal pad against a sternal keel.

Identification

Since the specimen contains much elongated antennae, fan-shaped abdomen, uropod and all above features, hence it is Palinurus.

See other posts also

• Palaemon malcolmsonii
• Penaeus (Prawn)
• Squilla (Shrimp)
• Astacus Astacus
• PHYLUM ARTHROPODA