Slipper lobster
Family of edible crustaceans with distinctive flattened antennae.
Slipper lobsters are a family (Scyllaridae) of about 90 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda clade Reptantia, found in all warm oceans and seas. They are not true lobsters but are more closely related to spiny lobsters and furry lobsters. Slipper lobsters are instantly recognisable by their enlarged antennae, which project forward from the head as wide plates. All species are edible, and some, such as the Moreton Bay bug and the Balmain bug (Ibacus peronii), are of commercial importance.
- field
- Crustacean biology and fisheries
- known_for
- Enlarged, flattened antennae; edible species of commercial importance
- species_count
- About 90
- largest_species
- Scyllarides haanii, up to 50 cm
- smallest_species
- Scyllarus pygmaeus, up to 55 mm
Lore & Background
Slipper lobsters have six segments in their heads and eight segments in the thorax, collectively covered in a thick carapace. The six abdominal segments each bear a pair of pleopods, while thoracic appendages are either walking legs or maxillipeds. The second antennae are their most conspicuous feature, expanded and flattened into large plates extending horizontally forward. There is considerable size variation among species: the Mediterranean Scyllarus pygmaeus grows to a maximum total length of 55 mm, while the largest, Scyllarides haanii, may reach 50 cm. Slipper lobsters are typically bottom dwellers of continental shelves, found at depths up to 500 metres. They eat molluscs, crustaceans, polychaetes, and echinoderms. They grow slowly and live to a considerable age. Lacking the giant neurones that allow other decapods to perform tailflips, they rely on burial in substrate and their heavily armoured exoskeleton to escape predators. The most significant predators are bony fish, with the grey triggerfish being the most significant predator of Scyllarides latus in the Mediterranean Sea. After hatching, young slipper lobsters pass through around ten instars as phyllosoma larvae—leaf-like, planktonic zoeae—lasting the greater part of a year. The larva then moults into a 'nisto' stage lasting a few weeks. Almost nothing is known about the transition from this stage to adults, which continue to grow through a series of moults.
Reader's Guide
Slipper lobsters, while not as intensely fished as spiny or true lobsters, hold commercial importance in many regions. Fishing methods vary by species ecology: those on soft substrates (Thenus, Ibacus) are often caught by trawling, while those in crevices and reefs (Scyllarides, Arctides, Parribacus) are usually caught by scuba divers. A wide array of common names exists, including 'slipper lobster', 'shovel-nosed lobster', 'locust lobster', and in Australia, 'bugs' such as Balmain bug and Moreton Bay bug.
Did You Know?
- Slipper lobsters are not true lobsters but are more closely related to spiny lobsters and furry lobsters.
- The smallest species, Scyllarus pygmaeus, grows to a maximum total length of 55 mm, while the largest, Scyllarides haanii, may reach 50 cm.
- Slipper lobsters lack the giant neurones that allow other decapod crustaceans to perform tailflips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Slipper lobster?
Slipper lobsters are a family of roughly 90 achelate crustacean species within the Decapoda order, specifically the Reptantia clade. They live in warm waters across every ocean and sea on the planet.
Are Slipper lobsters actually true lobsters?
No, the common name is misleading. They are phylogenetically closer to spiny lobsters and furry lobsters than to the true lobster lineage.
What is the most recognizable physical feature of a Slipper lobster?
Their antennae are dramatically enlarged and flattened into broad, forward-projecting plates on the head. This plate-like shape makes them instantly distinguishable from nearly every other crustacean.
Are Slipper lobsters edible and commercially harvested?
Every species in the family is safe to eat, and several are important commercial catches. The Moreton Bay bug and the Balmain bug (Ibacus peronii) are two of the most well-known edible examples.
What is the size range across Slipper lobster species?
The family spans a wide spectrum, from the diminutive Scyllarus pygmaeus at roughly 55 mm to the massive Scyllarides haanii, which can grow to around 50 cm.
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