Slipper Lobster

The Spanish dozer lobster, also known as the Spanish slipper lobster or shovel-nosed lobster (Scyllarides aequinoctialis), is a fascinating crustacean found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and along the coasts from South Carolina to Brazil.

• Appearance:

  • Mottled yellowish to reddish body with brown splotches
  • Short, flattened antennae that resemble wide plates with smooth, rounded edges
  • Legs lack claws and are uniformly colored (unlike the ridged slipper lobster, which has candy-striped legs)
  • Distinctive horseshoe-shaped black spot behind the first tail segment, often flanked by two smaller rounded black spots

• Size:

  • Can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) in total body length
  • Carapace length reaches about 4.7 inches (12 cm)

• Habitat:

  • Prefers rocky, coral, and sandy bottoms
  • Commonly found buried in sand during the day due to its nocturnal nature

• Behavior & Diet:

  • Sluggish and nocturnal
  • Feeds on carrion, detritus, and various bottom-dwelling marine organisms
  • Thick carapace offers protection from predators

• Reproduction:

  • Females carry bright orange eggs on their undersides until they turn brown and hatch
  • Indirect sperm transfer is typical