Vulnerable· population decreasing· assessed 2014

Crawfish (Spiny Lobster)

Palinurus elephas

Sighting evidence at Lough Hyne, Ireland

Photo: Albertini maridom · CC BY-NC

The reserve protection means Lough Hyne holds one of the highest densities of spiny lobster in Irish waters, sheltering in rock crevices and sponge caves by day. Adults can reach 50 cm and emerge at dusk to forage, making night dives particularly rewarding. Their long antennae are often visible poking from cracks during daytime dives.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Crawfish (Spiny Lobster) is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.