Slipper lobster

Slipper lobstersare afamily(Scyllaridae) of about 90 species ofachelatecrustaceans, in theDecapodacladeReptantia, found in all warm oceans and seas. They are nottrue lobsters, but are more closely related tospiny lobstersandfurry lobsters. Slipper lobsters are instantly recognisable by their enlargedantennae, which project forward from the head as wide plates. All the species of slipper lobsters are edible, and some, such as theMoreton Bay bugand the Balmain bug (Ibacus peronii) are of commercial importance.
Slipper lobsters have sixsegmentsin their heads and eight segments in thethorax, which are collectively covered in a thickcarapace. The six segments of theabdomeneach bear a pair ofpleopods, while the thoracicappendagesare eitherwalking legsormaxillipeds. The head segments bear variousmouthpartsand two pairs ofantennae. The first antennae, orantennules, are held on a long flexible stalk, and are used for sensing the environment. The second antennae are the slipper lobsters' most conspicuous feature, as they are expanded and flattened into large plates that extend horizontally forward from the animal's head.
There is considerable variation in size among species of slipper lobsters. TheMediterraneanspeciesScyllarus pygmaeusis the smallest, growing to a maximum total length of 55 millimetres (2.2 in), and rarely more than 40 mm (1.6 in).The largest species,Scyllarides haanii, may reach 50 centimetres (20 in) long.
Slipper lobsters are typically bottom dwellers of thecontinental shelves, found at depths of up to 500 metres (1,600 ft).Slipper lobsters eat a variety ofmolluscs, includinglimpets,musselsandoysters,as well ascrustaceans,polychaetesandechinoderms.They grow slowly and live to a considerable age. They lack the giantneuroneswhich allow other decapod crustaceans to perform tailflips, and must rely on other means to escapepredatorattack, such as burial in a substrate and reliance on the heavilyarmouredexoskeleton.
The most significantpredatorsof slipper lobsters arebony fish, with thegrey triggerfishbeing the most significant predator ofScyllarides latusin theMediterranean Sea.
After hatching out of theireggs, young slipper lobsters pass through around teninstarsasphyllosomalarvae— leaf-like,planktoniczoeae.These ten or so stages last the greater part of a year, after which the larvamoultsinto a "nisto" stage that lasts a few weeks. Almost nothing is known about the transition from this stage to the adults, which continue to grow through a series of moults.
Although they are fished for wherever they are found, slipper lobsters have not been the subject of such intense fishery asspiny lobstersortrue lobsters.The methods used for catching slipper lobsters varies depending on the species' ecology. Those that prefer softsubstrates, such asThenusandIbacus, are often caught bytrawling, while those that prefer crevices, caves andreefs(includingScyllarides,ArctidesandParribacusspecies) are usually caught byscuba divers.
The global catch of slipper lobsters was reported in 1991 to be 2,100 tonnes (2,100 long tons; 2,300 short tons).More recently, annual production has been around 5,000 tonnes (4,900 long tons; 5,500 short tons), the majority of which is production ofThenus orientalisinAsia.
A number ofcommon nameshave been applied to the family Scyllaridae. The most common of these is "slipper lobster",followed by "shovel-nosed lobster"and "locust lobster". "Spanish lobster" is used for members of the genusArctides,"mitten lobster" forParribacus,and "fan lobster" forEvibacusandIbacus.In Australia, a number of species are called "bugs" (for example, theBalmain bugandMoreton Bay bug), especially those in the genusIbacus.Other names used in Australia include "bay lobster", "blind lobster", "flapjack", "flat lobster", "flying saucer", "gulf lobster", "mudbug", "sandbug", "shovel-nose bug", "shovelnose lobster", "crayfish", "slipper bug" and "squagga".Rarer terms include "flathead lobster" (forThenus orientalis)and "bulldozer lobster".In Greece they may be known as Kolochtypes which roughly translates as 'bum hitter'. Twenty-two genera are recognised,the majority of which were erected in 2002 byLipke Holthuisfor species formerly classified underScyllarus:
Slipper lobsters belong to the following genera.
Gallery of various slipper lobsters species:
Thefossil recordof slipper lobsters extends back 100–120 million years, which is considerably less than that of slipper lobsters' closest relatives, thespiny lobsters. One significant earlier fossil isCancrinos claviger, which was described fromUpper Jurassicsediments at least142million years ago, and may represent either anancestorof modern slipper lobsters,or thesister groupto the family Scyllaridaesensu stricto.