Slipper lobsters make up the family Scyllaridae in the order Decapoda. There are around 90 species of these achelate (clawless) decapod crustaceans، split into 21 genera، which are placed in four subfamilies: Arctidinae، Ibacinae، Scyllarinae and Theninae.
Slipper lobsters are not true lobsters، but are more closely related to spiny lobsters and furry lobsters. They are recognizable because of their large antennae، flat bodies، and the fact that they do not have two large front claws.
Most slipper lobsters live in warm oceans across the world from the surface all the way down to depths of about 500 metres (1،600 ft). There is quite a variation among the species of slipper lobsters in terms of size and weight، but all are edible and many species are of great economic importance to fisheries.
Despite the fact these animals are heavily commercially fished، in general their populations are not considered to be threatened، even though some populations are declining in size. Because there are so many species، and not all are caught for their meat، the Scyllaridae as a whole are still considered to be thriving.
Slipper Lobster Characteristics
The size and shape of slipper lobsters varies greatly depending on their species. In general، these animals are characterized by their flat bodies، which can range from 55 millimetres (2.2 in) to 50 centimetres (20 in) in length. They can weigh between 1.1 and 1.3 lb (0.5 and 1.5kg).
Slipper lobsters have six segments in their heads and eight segments in the thorax، which are collectively covered in a thick carapace. The six segments of the abdomen each bear a pair of pleopods، while the thoracic appendages are either walking legs or maxillipeds. Some species of slipper lobster have fur on their bodies.
Their flattened outer shell makes them resemble a slipper، from where they get their name. They have two pairs of antennae، the first one is long and flexible and used to sense the environment، and the second antennae is expanded and flattened into large plates that extend horizontally forward from the animal’s head. This second pair helps them to dig into the sand and find their prey.
Slipper lobsters are usually brown or reddish-brown in color، although some species have distinct markings or spots. Some species also have bright colors on their bodies، such as blue or purple.
Slipper Lobster Lifespan
The exact lifespan of the slipper lobster is unknown، but it is thought that they may live for up to 10 to 15 years in the wild.
Slipper Lobster Diet
Slipper lobsters are carnivores and eat mollusks like limpets، oysters، and other sea anemones including sea urchins and worms. They also eat crustaceans، polychaetes and echinoderms. These lobsters also scavenge on dead animal matter. They use their jaws and limbs to crack open shellfish.
Slipper Lobster Behavior
Slipper lobsters are nocturnal، spending the day hiding in cracks and crevices to help them escape from predators. They mostly live on their own، and it is thought that they probably communicate with others within their species، although it is not known how.
While these animals do not have front claws that they can use to defend themselves from predators، slipper lobsters can escape predators by using their flat body، they can lie very flat in the substrate and the bottom of the ocean and go largely unnoticed by preying sea creatures.
They also use their unique coloring to help camouflage themselves from predators، and can cling to rocks so they really blend in.
In general، these lobsters move pretty slowly on the seafloor، but when they have to be faster or flee، they tuck or curl and uncurl their tail under their abdomens while walking or swimming.
Slipper Lobster Reproduction
Male slipper lobsters deposit a sperm packet، scientifically known as a spermatophore، on the underside of a female lobster during mating. Then the female lobster releases a large number of eggs (up to 100،000 eggs!). She carries these beneath her body for around two weeks، during which time the color of these changes from orange to brown. These eggs then hatch into very small floating larvae.
Young slipper lobsters go through around ten developmental stages or phases when hatched out of the egg. This can take up to a year after which the larva moults into a nisto stage that lasts a few weeks. From here، almost nothing is known about the transition to the adult stage، although it is thought they continue to grow through a series of moults.
Slipper Lobster Location and Habitat
Slipper lobsters live in warm oceans around the world. The exact areas in which they live varies depending on the species. They are typically bottom dwellers of the continental shelves، found at depths of up to 500 metres (1،600 ft).
Slipper Lobster Conservation Status
All species of slipper lobster are edible، and most are caught for their meat. Some species have much higher commercial value than others، with some species only being sold when they have been accidentally caught by fishermen. Slipper lobster tails are very popular throughout the world.
There is not an accurate population count for most species of slipper lobster، but it is thought that they are not endangered or threatened. Their numbers may be declining، however، due to overfishing and climate change.
Predators
The main predators of slipper lobsters are bony fish.
Slipper Lobster FAQs
Can you eat slipper lobster?
Yes! All species of slipper lobster are edible، and most are caught and sold for their meat. These animals have huge economic importance in many areas، and slipper lobster meat can be very sought after.
How many species of slipper lobster are there?
There are around 90 species of slipper lobster! These are split into 21 genera.
Where do slipper lobsters live?
Slipper lobsters live all over the world. They can be found in warm seas، such as the Pacific Ocean، and live on the bottom of the seabed amongst substrate.
What do slipper lobsters eat?
Slipper lobsters eat a variety of molluscs، including limpets، mussels and oysters، as well as crustaceans، polychaetes and echinoderms.
How do lobsters communicate?
Lobsters cannot produce verbal sounds because they do not have any vocal chords. In fact، they communicate mostly using urine. To put it very simply، they squirt pee at each other’s faces to communicate!
Lobsters urinate from their faces so this is easy for them to do. Pheromones are injected into their urine، and so، when they pee، they release these pheromones and can lets other lobsters know how they are feeling.
Do lobsters mate for life?
It is a popular theory that lobsters mate for life، but in reality، it isn’t true. These animals can create a monogamous bond، but it only lasts for two weeks.
How long can lobsters live out of water?
Lobsters can live for around one to two days out of water، if they are kept cool، moist and refrigerated. Because they are gill breathers، they can be kept alive for a short amount of time with newspaper and/or seaweed. This helps to keep them moist.
Slipper Lobster Taxonomy
There are four subfamilies of the family Scyllaridae — Arctidinae، Ibacinae، Scyllarinae and Theninae — with 21 genera split amongst these. Within these genera، there are around 90 species of slipper lobster.
Here is the slipper lobster subfamilies and genera in greater detail.
Subfamily: Arctidinae
Arctides
Scyllarides
Subfamily: Ibacinae
Evibacus
Ibacus
Parribacus
Subfamily: Scyllarinae
Acantharctus
Antarctus
Antipodarctus
Bathyarctus
Biarctus
Chelarctus
Crenarctus
Eduarctus
Galearctus
Gibbularctus
Petrarctus
Remiarctus
Scammarctus
Scyllarella
Scyllarus
Subfamily: Theninae
Thenus
Slipper Lobster Species
There are around 90 species of slipper lobster. Let’s take a look at some of the most known species، and their common names and scientific names، in greater detail.
Flathead lobster
Genus: Thenus
Species: Thenus orientalis
The flathead lobster is found in the Indo-West Pacific area، from East Africa to China and southern Japan. They reside at a depth of 8 to 70 m.
These slipper lobsters get their name due to the fact they have a flat head. They have a pale reddish-brown hue، with upper parts being a mild purple-brown color with orangish-yellow legs. They measure around 9.8 in (25 cm) in length and can weigh over 1.1 lb (0.5 kg).
The conservation status of flathead slipper lobster is Least Concern. Given their range، they are the most commonly found slipper lobster
Mediterranean slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides latus
The Mediterranean slipper lobster is found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. They live on rocky or sandy substrates at depths of 4 to 100 metres (13 to 328 ft).
They can grow to a total body length about 45 centimetres (18 in)، although rarely more than 30 cm (12 in)، and can weigh as much as 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb). They are cryptically colored، allowing them to blend in with their surroundings.
The Mediterranean slipper lobster is edible، but it is a relatively rare species، and is therefore of little interest to fisheries. However، it is caught in small numbers throughout its distribution. Its population numbers are unknown and is therefore listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
Balmain bug lobster
Genus: Ibacus
Species: Ibacus peronii
The Balmain bug lobster، also known as the butterfly fan lobster، is found in shallow waters around Australia. They live at depths of 20 to 450 metres (66 to 1،476 ft).
It is reddish brown in color، measuring up to 23 cm (9 in) long and 14 cm (6 in) wide. They usually weigh around 120 grams (4.2 oz)، but the weight can range from 80 to 200 g (2.8 to 7.1 oz).
The Balmain bug lobster is the most commercially important species in the genus Ibacus. Only the tail contains edible meat and it is sometimes reported as tasting of garlic. Despite commerical fishing، they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Ridged slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides nodifer
The ridged slipper lobster is found in the Western Atlantic region، around Bermuda and the coast of the USA south of Cape Lookout، North Carolina، and around the entire Gulf of Mexico. They typically reside at depths between 2 and 91 m on a sandy substrate، sometimes mixed with mud، shells or corals.
This slipper lobster has unique coloring، with white and red striped bands on its legs. They have a total body length of about 35 cm. The ridged slipper lobster is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is only minimally commercially fished.
Japanese fan lobster
Genus: Ibacus
Species: Ibacus ciliatus
The Japanese fan lobster is found in the western Pacific Ocean from the Philippines to the Korean Peninsula and southern Japan. It is the only species of Ibacus not known to occur around the coast of Australia. The Japanese fan lobster lives on soft substrates at depths of 49 to 324 metres (161 to 1،063 ft)، at temperatures of 14 to 24 °C (57 to 75 °F).
This slipper lobster is reddish brown in color and has a total length up to 23 centimetres (9.1 in). Its body appears to fan out more than other slipper lobsters، hence its name.
The Japanese fan lobster is harvested throughout its range، although there is little data on the quantities being caught. It is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
Small European locust lobster
Genus: Scyllarus
Species: Scyllarus arctus
The small European locust lobster is found throughout the Mediterranean Sea، and in eastern parts of the Atlantic Ocean، from the Azores، Madeira and the Canary Islands as far north as the English Channel. It lives at depths of 4 to 50 m on muddy or rocky substrates.
This slipper lobster is relatively small، around 5 to 10 cm (2.0 to 3.9 in) in length. It is reddish-brown in color، with a dark brown spot in the centre of each abdominal somite، although this is not sharply defined.
The small European locust lobster is the subject of small scale fishery، but its scarcity and its small size make it an unattractive target. It is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Spanish slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarus
Species: Scyllarus aequinoctialis
The Spanish slipper lobster is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from South Carolina to S?o Paulo State، Brazil، including the Gulf of Mexico، Caribbean Sea and Bermuda. They usually reside between 0.6 and 64 m، on a substrate of sand or rocks، often on the outer reefs.
This slipper lobster can grow up to 30 centimetres long، with a carapace 12 cm long. They are yellowish to reddish with brown spots. One of their main features is a horseshoe shaped black spot just behind its carapace on the first tail segment، which is flanked by two more black spots.
The Spanish slipper lobster is fished، but is not of great economic importance. It is eaten، but is not one of the main exports in its areas. Its meat sometimes serves as bait in lobsterpots.
Blunt slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides squammosus
The blunt slipper lobster is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific region، from Australia (Queensland، New South Wales، West Australia)، Japan، Hawaii، Melanesia، New Caledonia to East Africa. It resides at depths from 7.5 m to 71 m.
This slipper lobster is predominantly a light reddish brown color mixed with yellow in some areas. The first segment of its tail is a light yellow with three characteristic circular brown marks on it. Their eyes are ringed with orange dots. It has a total body length about 40 cm.
The blunt slipper lobster is highly sought-after، particularly because of its large size and well developed fleshy tail. However، it is scarce and lives in inaccessible places and therefore is not commercially fished.
Sculptured mitten lobster
Genus: Parribacus
Species: Parribacus antarcticus
The sculptured mitten lobster is found along the western coast the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to northern Brazil، along the southern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean، and in Hawaii and Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean. It usually resides in the shallow water of lagoons and coral or stone marine reefs، preferably with a sandy bottom، at a depth of 0 to 20 m.
These slipper lobsters are yellowish in color، mottled with brown and black patches. The lateral margin shows large teeth banded with yellow، orange and light purple. They can reach about 20 cm in length.
The sculptured mitten lobster is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The taste of these lobsters is always praised، but there is no special fishery for them. The species is considered too small and the abdomen too flat to be of commercial interest. It is sold fresh or cooked and used for local consumption.
Japanese mitten lobster
Genus: Parribacus
Species: Parribacus japonicus
The Japanese mitten lobster is found the northwestern coast of Japan، west of Maizuru، and on the Pacific coast of Japan، from Tokyo Bay to southwest of the Ryukyu Islands، and even further south the Pacific Ocean towards the northeast coast of Taiwan. It resides on the reefs of continental shelves، at depths of up to 20 meters (66 feet).
This slipper lobster can grow to a length of up to 16 centimeters، with females being larger than males. Its carapace and upper abdomen are brown، its anterior edge has a bluish tinge، and its lower body and legs are yellowish brown. It also has protrusions on the side of its back that are purple.
The Japanese mitten lobster is fished locally، trapped in gill nets by local fishermen and sold for its meat. However، it has little economic importance and is not fished on a wide commercial scale. It is currently Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
Galapagos slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides astori
The Galapagos slipper lobster is found in the Eastern Pacific، around the Gulf of California and Mexico and around the Gal?pagos Archipelago and Ecuador. It resides in shallow water، around 10 m deep، on rocky substrate.
It has a total length up to about 25 cm and has a unique maroon color. There is no special fishery for this species، but animals are occasionally caught and used for food. They are caught too infrequently to be of economic importance.
Small Spanish lobster
Genus: Arctides
Species: Arctides guineensis
The small Spanish lobster is found in the Bermuda Triangle. It was described in 1799، making it one of the first slipper lobsters to be described. These slipper lobsters reach a maximum length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in). They are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The species is too rare to be of much economic interest.
Aesop slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides haanii
The Aesop slipper lobster is found in the eastern and western Indian Ocean and throughout the Pacific Ocean. It is a wide-ranging benthic species but is not really abundant anywhere. It resides at depths of 10 to 135 m (30 to 440 ft)، in coral reefs and rocky bottoms.
This species is thought to be the largest of the Scyllarides genus، and can grow to a maximum body length of 50.5 cm (20 in)، but more commonly ranges between 16 and 30 cm (6 and 12 in) in length.
The Aesop slipper lobster is targeted by fisheries and is caught frequently، but due to its wide distribution and occurrence in at least one protection area، it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Three-spot slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides delfosi
The three-spot slipper lobster is found in the Western Atlantic region، along the north coast of South America from Venezuela to Brazil. It resides in substrate mud، at depths between 42 and 80 m.
It has one circular central spot and two irregularly shaped lateral spots on its dorsal surface، hence its name. This slipper lobster has a total body length of 25 cm. It is not commercially fished in large quantities and is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
Hooded slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides deceptor
The hooded slipper lobster is found in the Western Atlantic region، from southern Brazil south to northern Argentina. It resides at depths between 45 and 200 m.
This slipper lobster has a body length measuring between 13 to 27 cm. It is not specifically fished and is too rare to be of economic importance، but the hooded slipper lobster is occasionally caught in traps.
Red slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides herklotsii
The red slipper lobster is found from Senegal south to Ponta do Pinda، Angola. It usually lives at depths of 5 to 70 metres (16 to 230 ft)، but has been recorded from depths as great as 200 m (660 ft). It prefers sandy and rocky substrates.
This species can reach a total length of 32 centimetres (13 in)، but does not generally exceed 25 cm (9.8 in) long. It is not commercially fished and is only taken by accident. It is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
Cape slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides elisabethae
The Cape slipper lobster is found in the Indo-West Pacific region، around South Eastern Africa. They usually reside at depths between 37 to 380 m، on a substrate of fine sediments، mud or fine sand. Their body has a total length of around 20 cm. They are not of great economic importance.
Clamkiller slipper lobster
Genus: Scyllarides
Species: Scyllarides tridacnophaga
The clamkiller slipper lobster is found in the Indo-West Pacific region، around the Red Sea، East Africa (Somalia، Kenya)، Gulf of Aden، Pakistan and the west coast of Thailand. Its depth ranges from 5 to 112 m. It has a total body length of about 30 cm. Due to its size، it is commercially caught for its meat.
Smooth fan lobster
Genus: Ibacus
Species: Ibacus novemdentatus
The smooth fan lobster is found in the Indo-West Pacific region and usually resides from 37 to 400 m deep. Its total body length is usually about 19 cm، with a carapace length of 3 to 7.7 cm. In Korea and Japan، as well as in Taiwan، this species is sold at the markets.
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