Common Name: Rough Spanish Lobster

Distribution: Relatively common in the Solitary Island Marine Park. Distributed throughout the south-west Pacific including New Zealand. In Australia recorded from New South Wales, including Lord Howe Island.

Ecological Notes: Often found on the roofs of caves and overhangs in inshore reef areas with clear water during daylight hours. Ventures forth at night to feed. Depth to 146 m.

Additional Notes: Shades of orange and brown, flattened antennae, inner ones closest to the head with strong spines. First two legs reddish, turning blue towards the propodus and dactylus, with distinct small white spots. The median ridges of the abdominal sections are often naked and visible despite growth that may occur elsewhere on the body. Grows to a total length of  350 – 400 mm, carapace length up to 13 cm.

References: Palomares, M.L.D. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. SeaLifeBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.sealifebase.org, version (06/2018). https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Arctides-antipodarum.html Accessed 26/11/2021

Graham J. Edgar. Australian Marine Life, 2nd Edition, 2008. Reed New Holland Publishers. p 232.

Diana Jones, Gary Morgan, A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters, Western Australian Museum, Reed Publishers, Sydney, 1994. p.107.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=Arctides+antipodarum Accessed 26/11/2021. 

Holthuis, L.B. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 13. Marine lobsters of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries known to date.
FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 13. Rome, FAO. 1991 p. 174.