SPINY ROCK LOBSTER
(Jasus edwardsii)
Synonymy: Koura, crayfish
A
crustacean found commonly around New Zealand’s coastline
from subtidal areas down into deeper water. Targeted by
commercial fishermen and recreational divers alike because
of its firm and delicately flavoured flesh.
Males
can grow to a length of 54cm and a weight of around 5.4
kg |
 |
with
females growing to about half this weight, however due to fishing
pressure, animals of this size are now rare.
It
is thought they can live to an age of thirty years or more,
and feed on a range of invertebrates, molluscs, carrion and
seaweed.
Did
you know?
Spiny rock lobsters are most commonly known as crayfish but
this term should really be applied to the freshwater crayfish
found elsewhere in the aquarium.
HERMIT
CRAB (Pagurus sp.)
Hermit
crabs are found in a range of habitats around New Zealand’s
coastline and can commonly be seen by divers, dragging their
protective shells across open, soft bottomed seafloor which
offers little protection to other animals.
| They
can generally be found inhabiting empty gastropod shells
and will seek larger shells as they outgrow their current
lodgings. The hermit crab is a scavenger and feeds by spooning
up sediment into its mouthparts with its concave left claw
(chela). |
 |
It uses its larger right chela as a door to block access to
its home.
Did
you know?
Hermit crabs (along with the commonly encountered Porcelain
crab) are not true crabs and are in fact more closely related
to the lobsters.
SLIPPER
LOBSTER (Arctites antipodum)
Synonymy: Spanish lobster.
Like
its cousin the rock lobster, the slipper lobster has no claws
(chelipeds). They are rarely seen as they are nocturnal and
prefer to cling to the roof of caves during the daytime.
| They
are generally found down to depth of 30m and are more common
in warmer waters, being seldom seen south of Tauranga. It
is thought they feed on a range of invertebrates and carrion. |
 |
Did
you know?
Southern Encounter’s slipper lobster was actually caught
around Mayor Island on the east coast of the North Island!
