scubaseason

Ornate Spiny Lobster

Panulirus ornatus

Sighting evidence at Lobster Wall, Kapalai Island

Large ornate spiny lobsters retreat into the deeper crevices of Lobster Wall during daylight, their long antennae protruding visibly from the rock — the feature that gives the site its name. They emerge at night to forage across the sandy bottom for molluscs, sea urchins and carrion, making night dives on this wall dramatically different in character from daytime dives. The species is an important indicator of low fishing pressure and benefits from the de facto protection provided by Kapalai's resort-dive-only access model.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Ornate 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.

Also seen at other sites