Japanese Spiny Lobsterイセエビ

Species Data

Classification

Decapoda / Palinuridae Source

Size

Body length usually about 20–30 cm, rarely approaching 50 cm; the Japanese record set in 2017 was 38.5 cm and 2.33 kg

Lifespan

Said to live over 20 years

Diet

Carnivore Carnivorous, preying mainly on various small animals such as mollusks and sea urchins, but also eats seaweed

Activity

Nocturnal; hides on rock ledges and in crevices by day and emerges at night to hunt

Distribution

Found in Pacific waters around Japan, Taiwan, China, and Korea, inhabiting shallow rocky reefs and coral areas exposed to open water. Source

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

• During the breeding season, individuals form single-file marching columns, sometimes traveling 60 km over a week without rest or forming lines of around 60 lobsters. Source
• It is thought to share a mutually beneficial relationship with moray eels, helping protect each other from a shared predator, the octopus. Source
• Its larval stage, called the phyllosoma, drifts in the open ocean for roughly 300 days before settling. Source

FAQ

How big does the Japanese spiny lobster get?

It typically grows to 20-30 cm long, occasionally reaching close to 50 cm; the largest verified Japanese specimen measured 38.5 cm and weighed 2.33 kg. Source

Why do Japanese spiny lobsters form long lines?

During the breeding season they sometimes migrate in single-file columns of dozens of individuals, occasionally covering around 60 km over a week without stopping to rest. Source

How long do Japanese spiny lobsters live?

They are thought to live more than 20 years. Source

How many operating facilities are registered here?

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 4 Source

Books & gear

• Japanese Spiny Lobster book
• binoculars