Meet our two new spiny lobsters, Knuckles and Tails! Their common name: Palinurus elephas. These striking new crustaceans are the cousin of crabs, and barnacles, but unlike their claw wielding common lobster relatives, these guys skipped the giant pincers and opted for two tiny hook-like claws.
You’ll usually find them tucked away in rocky crevices and caves, in the United Kingdom and Europe, hanging out in waters between 10 and 400 metres deep. Their name comes from the spiky forward facing armour plating their shells (carapaces). However, depending on where you are in the UK, you might also hear them being called crawfish, crayfish or rock lobsters. You can identify spiny lobsters by the absence of the big claws of common lobsters, and naturally, spines covering their carapace and abdomen. Their vibrant orangey brown colour are glisten beautifully in the their new home in the Plymouth Sound Exhibit.
Our spiny friends join us ahead of our new October Half Term campaign – Spiny Vs Slimy. Get involved with our activity trail, crafts and our Half Term show all about our spiny and slimy animals! Are you going to be Team Spiny or Team Slimy?
You can spot our two new arrivals in the Plymouth Sound exhibit, if you can’t spot them, ask one of our Ocean Discovery Rangers who will be happy to talk abotu them!
