Taxonomy of Shellfish

8.4.4. Panulirus penicillatus

Unit 8 - Taxonomy of lobsters

8.4.4. Panulirus penicillatus - Pronghorn spiny lobster

• Abdominal segments with distinct transverse grooves and numerous, very small white spots, but without a pale band along posterior margin.
• Two pairs of almost equal spines joined at their bases on the antennular plate (No other Panulirus spp. has this character).
• Legs with fine or broader longitudinal white to yellow stripes.
• Ground colour ranging from yellow-green through brown-green to blue black or dark. Reddish brown, with many cream spots on upper surface of carapace and many tiny pale spots on abdomen.
• Antennular flagella uniform green or brown.
• Males usually darker than females.