Tristan rock lobster
| Jasus paulensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Achelata |
| Family: | Palinuridae |
| Genus: | Jasus |
| Species: | J. paulensis |
| Binomial name | |
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Jasus paulensis (Heller, 1862) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Jasus paulensis, also commonly known as the St Paul rock lobster, is a species of spiny lobster found in the waters around Saint Paul Island in the southern Indian Ocean and around Tristan da Cunha in the southern Atlantic Ocean. At one time the rock lobsters on Tristan da Cunha were believed to be a separate species known as the Tristan rock lobster (Jasus tristani), but the use of mitochondrial DNA sequencing has shown them to be identical. Some authorities, for example the IUCN, retain them as separate species. The Tristan rock lobster features on the coat of arms and the flag of Tristan da Cunha.
Males of this species grow to a total length of about 34 cm (13 in) with a carapace length of 13 cm (5 in) while females may attain a total length of 24 cm (9 in). Like other rock lobsters, it lacks chelae (claws) on its front pair of walking legs. The carapace is armoured with large flat spines, about as wide as they are long, mixed with small spines. The first few abdominal segments are sculptured with fine transverse grooves at the front of each segment with a smoother area behind.
Although this spiny lobster was originally known only from St Paul and neighbouring New Amsterdam Islands in the southern Indian Ocean, more recently it has been discovered on other seamounts on the Southwest Indian Ridge, so its range is rather larger than originally thought. A previously recognised species Jasus tristani, found around Tristan da Cunha in the southern Atlantic Ocean, has now been synonymised with J. paulensis. This is an uncommon species throughout its range and is usually found at depths between 10 and 35 m (33 and 115 ft) but occasionally down to about 60 metres (200 ft). It is found on rocks and among kelp.
Jasus paulensis is nocturnal. It feeds on seaweeds and scavenges on dead animal material. The eggs are laid from May onwards and the female incubates them under her tail for several months.
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Wikipedia