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Identifying the collection sites for the wild seeds of a highly valued species is crucial for the conservation and management of its wild population and habitat. This study is the first to document the distribution and the characteristics of spiny lobster puerulus collection sites in Palawan, Philippines. The data were obtained from various key informants, site visits, and historical imagery from Google Earth Pro and Sentinel 2A of Copernicus between January 2021-December 2023. The data were loaded into the QGIS v3.28 software to produce a map of each locality projecting the distribution and characteristics of spiny lobster puerulus collection sites. The results showed that the collection began in the municipality of Sofronio Española in 2019 and eventually spread southward and northward along the east coast of Palawan. The municipalities on the east coast of Palawan such as Sofronio Española, Narra, and Roxas had the highest number of collection sites, whereas fewer on the west coast such as in Rizal. Most of the collection sites were located generally along the intertidal zones or embayment with sandy-muddy to rubble substrates adjacent to mangrove forests, or within seagrass or seaweed, and coral reef ecosystems. To conserve and manage the spiny lobster puerulus fishery, the revision of the provincial ordinance on spiny lobster puerulus collection in Palawan should include the proper zoning of collection sites, imposing catch limits, and annual catch monitoring. Venturing into spiny lobster aquaculture can help reduce the fishing pressure and enhance the earnings of the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, was submitted for necropsy after a number of species-specific fatalities in a public aquarium. The hemolymph was opaque and did not clot and the hepatopancreas had multiple foci of necrosis centered on gram-negative bacteria. Pure cultures of Vibrio harveyi were isolated, identified initially by matrix laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, and confirmed by multilocus sequencing of the gyrB, recA, rpoA, and pyrH genes. As Caribbean spiny lobsters continue to be used for consumption and displayed in public aquariums, chronicling potential pathogens is warranted to inform differential diagnoses and to develop management strategies to reduce incidence of infectious disease in captive populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first case of partial albinism registered in the Mexican Pacific by the blue lobster Panulirus inflatus is presented. The specimen was collected on the southern coast of Jalisco know as Punta "El Estrecho". It constitutes one of the few registered cases of albinism in invertebrates from the Eastern Tropical Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are over 200 species of lobsters distributed among three families of decapod crustaceans: Nephropidae Dana, 1852 (clawed lobsters), Palinuridae Latreille, 1802 (spiny lobsters), and Scyllaridae Latreille, 1825 (slipper lobsters). Lobsters occur throughout most of the world's seas and live in a variety of habitats from just below the tide line to depths of over 1000 m. The large-bodied species support valuable fisheries and fishers have developed a variety of techniques to capture adult lobster on which scientists can capitalize for their own collections. Trap-based methods, however, often yield biased estimates of abundance and size- and sexstructure. Divers also have many tools available to facilitate the hand-collection of lobsters in shallow water, whereas in deeper water modern underwater videography can be employed to estimate lobster abundance, size, and sex ratios. Plankton nets provide collections of planktonic larval and postlarval lobsters, although towed 3D video camera arrays are a promising new technology for this purpose. Inshore, a multitude of artificial collectors that mimic various types of settlement substrates have been developed to collect the postlarval and early benthic stages of different lobster species. Aquaculture is another alternative by which larvae and postlarvae can be obtained, but these methods are complicated and time consuming, especially for spiny and slipper lobsters because of their long planktonic larval duration. Methods for the non-destructive collection of lobster tissue samples and the preservation of lobster samples are also reviewed, followed by an appeal for humane treatment of lobsters and respect for local regulations and customs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To resolve phylogeographical partitions in the pronghorn spiny lobster, Panulirus penicillatus, which has a nine-month pelagic larval phase and the broadest distribution among spiny lobsters. With samples from the Red Sea to the East Pacific, we test genetic partitions across two-thirds of the planet, in a species with one of the longest pelagic phases. Location Red Sea, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Methods A fragment of the mt DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene ( COI) was resolved in 774 individuals from 28 locations, plus 55 sequences (10 locations) from public databases. Portions of COI, 12S and 16S mt DNA regions were resolved for phylogenetic analyses on a subset of individuals. Phylogenetic and population-level analyses were used to detect evolutionary partitions and dispersal barriers. Results Significant population structuring was detected (overall ΦST = 0.310, P < 0.001). Samples from the Red Sea and East Pacific Provinces (western and eastern range edges) comprise distinct phylogenetic lineages, divergent at d = 1.1% and 1.8%, respectively, from the Indo-Pacific. Coalescent analyses indicate a Pleistocene isolation for the Red Sea (0.71 Ma) and East Pacific (1.52 Ma). Excluding the Red Sea and East Pacific, structure across the rest of the range was comparatively low, but significant (ΦST = 0.018, P < 0.001). Main conclusions The Red Sea and East Pacific populations are phylogenetically distinct from populations elsewhere in the range. The East Pacific population diverged earliest, and may represent a distinct subspecies. Phylogeographical divisions align with the major Indo-Pacific biogeographical barriers, and with subsets of provincial designations from two frameworks: one based on levels of endemism and one on species composition. Tropical and temperate regions in the Pacific are significantly differentiated, potentially indicating an ecological partition. Isolation at eastern and western peripheral provinces may serve as a starting point for evolutionary diversification within this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reef lobster fauna of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean is documented. Five species of palinurids, one species of scyllarid and one species of enoplometopid are recorded from these islands. Two species, Palinurellus wieneckii (De Man, 1881) (Palinuridae) and Enoplometopus voigtmanni Türkay, 1989 (Enoplometopidae) are new records for Christmas Island and Australia. The taxonomy of Parribaccus antarcticus (Lund, 1793) is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coexistence of closely related species may be promoted by niche differentiation or result from interspecific trade-offs in life history and ecological traits that influence relative fitness differences and contribute to competitive inequalities. Although insufficient to prove coexistence, trait comparisons provide a first step to identify functional differences between co-occurring congeneric species in relation to mechanisms of coexistence. Here, a comparative review on life history and ecological traits is presented for two pairs of co-occurring species of spiny lobsters in the genus Panulirus: P. gracilis and P. inflatus from the Eastern Central Pacific region, and P. argus and P. guttatus from the Caribbean region. Panulirus gracilis and P. inflatus have similar larval, postlarval, and adult sizes and a similar diet, but differ in degree of habitat specialization, fecundity, and growth rate. However, little is known on behavioral traits of these two species that may influence their competitive abilities and susceptibility to predators. The more abundant information on P. argus and P. guttatus shows that these two species differ more broadly in degree of habitat specialization, larval, postlarval and adult sizes, diet, fecundity, growth rate, degree of sociality, defense mechanisms, susceptibility to predators, and chemical ecology, suggesting a greater degree of niche differentiation between P. argus and P. guttatus than between P. gracilis and P. inflatus. Whether the substantial niche differentiation and apparent interspecific trade-offs between P. argus and P. guttatus relative to P. gracilis and P. inflatus reflect an earlier divergence of the former pair of species in the evolution of the genus constitutes an intriguing hypothesis. However, whether or not post-divergence evolution of each species pair occurred in sympatry remains uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphometric relationship of carapace length (CL) to tail width (TW) of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) was determined to assist enforcement of existing minimum size limits and also to enable the development of an upper size limit in Tasmania. Data were collected from southern rock lobsters in the wild and at processors and used to develop a system for measuring TW which reduces measurement error. Linear regression was used to define the relationship between CL and TW for males (TW = 0.4107x+14.058,R2=.9236,n=1003) and females (TW=0.5756x+2.2884,R2=.9323,n=503). Logistic regressions provide the TWs associated with the probability (0.5, 50 and 95%) of a lobster having a carapace equal to or more than the theoretical size limits. Regional differences in the morphometric relationship were evident but would not prevent the use of size limit based on TW if a conservative probability value were used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary pathway of Palinuridae (Crustacea, Decapoda) is still controversial, uncertain and unexplored, expecially from a karyological point of view. Here we describe the South African spiny lobster Jasus lalandii karyotype: n and 2n values, heterochromatin distribution, nucleolar organizer region (NOR) location and telomeric repeat structure and location. To compare the genomic and chromosomal organization in Palinuridae we located NORs in Panulirus regius, Palinurus gilchristi and Palinurus mauritanicus: all species showed multiple NORs. In J. lalandii NORs were located on three chromosome pairs, with interindividual polymorphism. In P. regius and in the two Palinurus species NORs were located on two chromosome pairs. In the two last species 45S ribosomal gene loci were also found on B chromosomes. In addition, the nature and location of telomeric repeats were investigated by FISH in J. lalandii, P. gilchristi, P. mauritanicus Palinurus elephas, and P. regius (Palinuridae, Achelata), and in Scyllarus arctus (Scyllaridae, Achelata): all these Achelata species showed the (TTAGG)n pentameric repeats. Furthermore, in J. lalandii these repeats occurred in all the telomeres and in some interstitial chromosomal sites, associated with NORs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spotted spiny lobsters, Panulirus guttatus, are small, obligate reef-dwellers that exhibit a highly sedentary lifestyle and a low tendency to aggregate with conspecifics, and that reproduce asynchronously year-round. Individual females can produce multiple clutches per year but have a short receptivity per clutch. As in most spiny lobsters, females of P. guttatus mate only once per clutch and resist further mating attempts, features that may favour development of female mate choice but limit the potential for sperm competition. We separately examined mate choice by large and small mature females through laboratory experiments that controlled for effects of male-male competition, quality of shelter, and mere social attraction. Only large females expressed preference for larger males relative to their own size, suggesting that only large females that mate with small males risk sperm limitation on fecundity success. In couples that mated, males deposited rather small, thinly spread spermatophores on the sterna of females. Spermatophore area (considered as a proxy measure of sperm content) increased with male size and showed no relationship with female size, suggesting that males of P. guttatus have a short sperm-recovery period or do not exhibit strategic sperm allocation in a non-competitive context. A comparison of average sperm allocation between P. guttatus and its sympatric species, P. argus (a much larger, highly mobile, and highly social species with more seasonal reproductive periods and a longer receptivity of females per clutch), suggests that males of P. guttatus allocate proportionally less sperm to females, on average, than males of P. argus do. According to predictions of across-species risk models, this result suggests that males of P. guttatus perceive lower average levels of sperm competition risk than males of P. argus do, implying that different Panulirus species may exhibit different mating strategies in accordance with their particular life-history and sociobiological traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The function of anti-predator signalling is a complex, and often-overlooked, area of animal communication. The goal of this study was to examine the behavioural function of an antipredator acoustic signal in the ocean. We observed the acoustic and defensive behaviours of California spiny lobsters (Palinuridae: Panulirus interruptus) to a model predator, model conspecific and blank pole, both in the tank and in the field. We found that P. interruptus make a 'rasp' sound once physically contacted by an aggressor, rather than during the approach. The model predator and conspecific elicited no discernable changes in defensive behaviour, but the responses by the lobsters to aggressors in the tank versus field were distinct. Our results indicate that the spiny lobster's rasp is used as a startle or aposematic signal, which may be coupled with visual aposematism of their spines. Alternatively, the rasp may function as a vibratory escape mechanism or as an acoustic analogue to eye-spots. This study offers insights into the role of acoustic signalling in the marine environment and demonstrates a central role for sound production in spiny lobster ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometric relationships were recorded for 2431 male and female Panulirus echinatus sampled at Tamandaré coastal reefs, Pernambuco, Brazil. The following body measurements were taken: carapace length and width, abdomen length and width, total length, third and fifth pereiopod length, cephalothorax–abdomen and total weight. Twelve relationships were studied to compare the biometric characteristics of males and females. Eleven of them showed difference between the sexes. Comparing sexes with the same carapace length, males have a heavier cephalothorax and longer third and fifth pereiopods than females, whereas females are longer, wider, and have a heavier abdomen than males. For genders with the same total length, males are heavier and have a longer carapace than females, while females have a larger abdomen. For genders with the same abdomen length, males have a heavier abdomen than females. The relationships TWg/TL and AWg/AL showed positive allometric growth for the males. All other relationships involving weight, presented negative allometric growth for both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the findings of a study concerning the determination of age structure and growth rates of Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus with the use of neurolipofuscin in Florida. Researchers determined lipofuscin content in eyestalk neural tissue in estimating the age and growth of Caribbean spiny lobster. The study indicated that neurolipofuscin concentration is desirable in estimating population parameters for Panulirus argus. Moreover, it emphasized that lobsters from the Florida Keys were smaller for their age than those from the Dry Tortugas.

The dynamic interplay between static and sliding friction is fundamental to many animal movements. One interesting example of stick-slip friction is found in the sound-producing apparatus of many spiny lobster species (Palinuridae). The acoustic movements of the spiny lobster's plectrum over the file are generated by stick-slip friction between the two surfaces. We examined the microscopic anatomy, kinematics, acoustics and frictional properties of the California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) toward the goal of quantitatively characterizing the frictional and acoustic mechanics of this system. Using synchronous high-speed video and sound recordings, we tested whether plectrum kinematics are correlated with acoustic signal features and found that plectrum velocity is positively correlated with acoustic amplitude. To characterize the frictional mechanics of the system, we measured frictional forces during sound production using excised plectrums and files. Similar to rubber materials sliding against hard surfaces, the static coefficient of friction in this system was on average 1.7. The change in the coefficient of friction across each stick-slip cycle varied substantially with an average change of 1.1. Although driven at a constant speed, the plectrum slipped at velocities that were positively correlated with the normal force between the two surfaces. Studies of friction in biological systems have focused primarily on adhesion and movement, while studies of stick-slip acoustics have remained under the purview of musical acoustics and engineering design. The present study offers an integrative analysis of an unusual bioacoustic mechanism and contrasts its physical parameters with other biological and engineered systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding movements of palinurid (spiny) lobsters is important to fisheries management. However, movement data obtained with mark-capture techniques are often influenced by artefacts (e.g., displacement, tag-loss, tag-induced injury). To avoid these problems, a novel approach was employed to investigate the movements of an important coral reef palinurid, the painted lobster (Panulirus versicolor). Eighty adult individuals were captured by hand near Northwest Island, Australia. Each lobster was tagged internally (with elastomer) and externally (with plastic zip-ties) to enable both short- (1-10 days) and longterm (6-24 months) observations. Shortly thereafter, all lobsters were manually returned to their shelters (dens). After 6-24 months, 44 lobsters were recaptured, giving an overall recapture rate of 55%. All of these individuals were recaptured within 500 m of their original den, thus indicating a high level of site-fidelity for this species. Short-term observations revealed that individuals moved frequently to and from nearby dens, and that male lobsters typically moved further than female lobsters. It is hypothesized that male lobsters move about their home range more actively, perhaps to seek mating opportunities or to defend resources. The significance of these observations is discussed with respect to the management of this important fishery resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortalities of puerulus and juvenile rock lobsters, Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875), held in shore-based ongrowing facilities at water temperatures between 10 and 18 °C were associated with infection by an invasive oomycete identified as Haliphthoros sp. Gross signs of disease included loss of appetite, lethargy and 1–3 brown/black focal necrotic lesions in the gills near insertion of the walking legs. Hyphae were observed in wet preparations of gill filaments excised from lesions. Histology of gill lesions showed hyphae inside the gill cuticle, invasion and lysis of the skeletal muscle and massive haemocyte infiltration and melanization at the base of walking legs adjacent to infected gill filaments. Lobsters over approximately 30 mm carapace length appeared resistant to infection. Death of affected lobsters usually occurred prior to or during the moult and in some cases may have been associated with secondary bacterial infection. Haliphthoros sp. was isolated in pure culture and marine agar 2216 was the medium that produced best growth in vitro. Two isolates were exposed in vitro to five chemicals to determine if an effective treatment could be found. Chemicals that interrupted the life cycle by killing zoospores or preventing sporulation included malachite green, trifuralin, formalin and copper sulphate. The appearance of the disease was associated with poor hygiene and its elimination may be achievable by improving husbandry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jasus edwardsii is New Zealand's largest seafood export species and supports valuable customary and recreational fisheries. Nine novel microsatellite markers were developed from 454 sequence data and scored across 45 individuals collected from Wellington, New Zealand (41°20′S, 174°48′E) to obtain diversity indices. All loci were polymorphic with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 6 to 39. Observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.563-0.937 and from 0.583-0.961, respectively. There were no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for any of the loci examined. Null allele frequencies were low (<10%) across all loci. These markers are currently being employed to study the genetic structure of J. edwardsii across New Zealand and Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized the total mitochondrial genome of Australian spiny lobster,Panulirus cygnus(George, 1962), which is found along the western coast of Australia. Total mitochondrial genome length ofP. cygnuswas 15 724 bp, in which 13 proteins, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a putative control region were encoded. Nine and four protein-coding genes are encoded on the H-strand and on the L-strand, respectively. According to the phylogenetic analysis,P. cygnuswas most closely related toPanulirus japonicusamong the compared six species belonging to Palinuridae. Although overall gene organization was the same, the putative control region (betweenSrRNAgene andtRNAIlel) is least similar to one another among mitochondrial genomes from the compared six species belonging to Palinuridae [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent collection of four specimens of the royal spiny lobster Panulirus regius in the eastern part of the Ligurian Sea (Italy) is reported. Earlier records of this eastern Atlantic species along the coasts of the western Mediterranean Sea are revised and the possible ways of introduction are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent collection of four specimens of the royal spiny lobster Panulirus regius in the eastern part of the Ligurian Sea (Italy) is reported. Earlier records of this eastern Atlantic species along the coasts of the western Mediterranean Sea are revised and the possible ways of introduction are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]