Slipper Lobster (Scyllarus arctus) An unusual little lobster has arrived at the National Marine Aquarium from the Isles of Scilly. It was caught in a lobster pot at a depth of about 60 metres about 3 miles south east of St Mary’s, just before Christmas (probably 21.12.2001) by Mr Barry Bennett. Realising that it was an unusual and interesting find Mr Bennett put it in a display tank, which he maintains in the Harbour Master’s Office in St Mary’s. After Christmas the Harbour Master, Jeff Penhaligon, ‘phoned Douglas Herdson at the National Marine Aquarium, who from his description suggested that it was probably a Slipper Lobster Scyllarus arctus. It has now been carefully packed in a box of seaweed, flown to Newquay, and brought by train to Plymouth. It arrived in fine condition and is indeed a slipper lobster and a fairly large and lively one. It has tiny pincers on the fifth pair of walking legs, showing that it is a female. This is the thirteenth slipper lobster found in Cornwall since they were first recorded here in 1758, and probably the fifteenth for Britain (the other two were in the Plymouth area). Five have been discovered in the last five years, and three of these were from around the Isles of Scilly. (More Giant Squid Architeuthis dux have been seen in British waters than Slipper Lobsters) This attractive little animal is now in the Jewels of Plymouth Sound exhibit at the National Marine Aquarium, but at present spends most of its time hiding under the safety of a sheltering rock, probably emerging to feed at night. This crustacean is about 13cm (5”) long, dark brown, with a lobster-like tail. The head lacks the large claws of a lobster, or the long antennae of a crawfish or spiny lobster; instead it has very short antennae and two large hinged scales or plates at the front of the shell. It has orange-red eyes and a rough granulated texture to the shell. The head scales have an attractive light and dark brown pattern and there are little longitudinal light brown and red markings on the tail. The walking legs have alternating bands of cream and brown, making it look as if it is wearing rugby socks. Slipper lobsters are found in warm seas throughout the world, and this species is one of the smallest. Scyllarus arctus is found in the Mediterranean, and in the Eastern Atlantic from Morocco to the English Channel but is rare north of the Bay of Biscay. They live on stony ground, in caves, and can also be found on muddy bottoms or in seagrass beds. They use the large spade-like scales at the front of the head to burrow into mud, sand or gravel between and under stones. When startled, they can shoot backwards rapidly by flexing their abdomen (tail). Their French name Cigale means ‘sea cricket’ and refers to a snapping cricket-like noise they make under water. In Mediterranean they commonly live from 4 to 50 metres, but in Cornwall most have been found at depths of 60 to 100 metres. British Occurrences (as known to us, any other records gratefully received); - All Cornwall adults unless otherwise noted 1758 1906 1856 1913 (Phyllostoma larvae) 1878 (this may be the same one as 1856) 1957 1880 1996 1892 - Plymouth 1999 1897 - Plymouth 1999 1900 2000 1906 (this may be the same one as 1856) 2001 Slipper lobster references (general, Cornish to be added). Anonymous. 1991. Slipper lobster. Seafood Leader 11(2): 217-224. Davidson,A. 1972. Mediterranean Seafood. Penguin books, London. Page 197 Fischer, W. (ed.) 1978. FAO Species identification sheets for fishery purposes.; Fishing Area 31, western Central Atlantic, SCYLL Scylds 3. Hardwick, C.W., Jr., and G.B. Cline. 1990. Reproductive status, sex ratios and morphometrics of the slipper lobster Scyllarides nodifer (Stimpson) (Decapoda: Scyllaridae) in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Northeast Gulf Sci. 11(2): 131-136. Holthius, L.B. 1991. FAO Species catalogue: Marine lobsters of the world. FAO Fish. Syn. 125, v. 13:192. Lyons, W.G. 1970. Scyllarid lobsters (Crustacea, Decapoda). Fla. Mar. Res. Lab. Mem. Hourglass Cruises 1(4): 74 p. Ogren, L.H. 1977. Concealment behavior of the Spanish lobster, Scyllarides nodifer (Stimpson), with observations on its diel activity. Northeast Gulf Sci. 1(2): 115-116. Rudloe, A. 1983. Preliminary studies of the mariculture potential of the slipper lobster, Scyllarides nodifer. Aquaculture 34:165-169. Williams, A.B. 1965. Marine decapod crustaceans of the Carolinas. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 65(1): 1-298. Williams, A.B. 1984. Shrimps, lobsters, and crabs of the Atlantic coast of the eastern United States, Maine to Florida. Smithsonian Inst. Pr., Wash. DC, 550 p. A jpg. (791 KB) picture of this animal is available from Douglas.Herdson@national-aquarium.co.uk Douglas Herdson, Information Officer, National Marine Aquarium, (Tel: 01752 275216) ÓDouglas Herdson, National Marine Aquarium, 17.1.2002 Douglas Herdson Information Officer National Marine Aquarium Rope Walk Coxside Plymouth PL4 0LF UK Telephone: (+44)01752 275216/01752 600301 Fax: (+44)01752 275217 Email: Douglas.Herdson@national-aquarium.co.uk ephone: (+44)01752 275216/01752 600301 Fax: (+44)01752 275217 Email: Douglas.Herdson@national-aquarium.co.uk