In the male, sperm duct openings are found at the base of the fifth pair of walking legs, those nearest the tail section. The sperm ducts become greatly enlarged during the breeding season. Male swimmerets are single and paddle-like. Female swimmerets are bilobed, resembling small pincers and, as noted, carry the eggs. The fifth pair of legs of the female is adapted for tending the eggs.
Spiny lobsters vary in color.
They may range from very light, almost white, to very dark, almost black or red-orange. In general, spiny lobsters from inshore, shallower waters are lighter in color than those from deeper reefs. Perhaps the most easily recognized identifying characters are the large yellow spots bordered by a darker color on each side of the second and sixth segments of the tail. Smaller spots are scattered over other segments in rather regular bands. Distribution and Habitat Spiny lobsters are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.