Eastern Rock Lobster
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© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Sagmariasus
- Species
- verreauxi
- Family
- Palinuridae
- Suborder
- Pleocyemata
- Infraorder
- Palinura
- Order
- Decapoda
- Superorder
- Eucarida
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Subphylum
- Crustacea
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 60 cm
Introduction
This species is commonly found in Sydney's top restaurants but much of Australia's catch is exported overseas.
Identification
The Eastern Rock Lobster is the largest spiny lobster in the world and can grow up to 8kg in weight.
Habitat
The Eastern Rock Lobster lives in coastal waters and oceans to a depth of 200 m.
Distribution
The Eastern Rock Lobster is found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. It can also be found in New Zealand waters.
Life history cycle
After mating, female Eastern Rock Lobsters carry hundreds of thousands of tiny orange eggs under their tail by fine hairs. The eggs hatch after about six months and, like most baby crustaceans, the juveniles look nothing like their parents. They go through a succession of moults before they reach the adult form, usually migrating to shallow waters in large numbers during the process. It is thought that the Eastern Rock Lobster lives for 20 years.
Economic impacts
The Eastern Rock Lobster is highly sought after by both recreational and commercial fishers. It is mostly caught in traps, and both commercial and recreational fishers must adhere to quotas and size restrictions, to give the lobsters a chance to breed before being caught.
