Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787)

Crayfish

Palinurus elephas

Description: The crayfish is larger than the lobster, growing to about 600mm in length. It has long antennae but small hook-like claws.

Habitat: Crayfish are found on open exposed rock faces and rocky seabed in the circalittoral and infralittoral zones. Numbers have been severely depleted on most coasts by tangle net fishing.

Distribution: A widespread species on western coasts of the British Isles, becoming rather scarce in Scotland.

Similar Species: The only other large crustacean with a similar shape is the lobster Homarus gammarus.

Key Identification Features:

• Orange coloration.
• Two long antennae.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database