The Life History of the Spiny Lobster
Spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, are decapod crustaceans. Lobsters have three distinctive life stages with separate ecologies and behaviors. The species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean ranging from Brazil to Bermuda. After hatching from fertilized eggs lobsters spend 9-12 months as planktonic larvae known as phyllosomes. These larval lobsters may be transported long distance by currents in the Carribean Sea. A phyllosome larva metamorphoses into a post-larval stage know as a puerulus. These lobsters swim towards shallow seagrass habitats and settle in algal habitats, especially those containing the red algae in the genus Laurencia. Adult spiny lobsters are most commonly found in coral reef habitats. Individuals are normally nocturnal. Lobsters leave their dens in the evenings to forage for food and return again before dawn. Some populations of spiny lobsters are known to undergo seasonal migrations following fall storms.

Phyllosome Larvae

Photo credit: National Geographic

Puerulus Post Larva

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Adult Spiny Lobster
Photo credit: National Geographic