scubaseason

Ornate Spiny Lobster

Panulirus ornatus

Sighting evidence at Lobster Cave, Little Liuqiu Island

Spiny lobsters crowd into the deeper recesses of Lobster Cave during daylight hours, antennae bristling from between rock crevices in the back wall. The cave's largest individuals — some with bodies exceeding 40 centimeters — have been present for years according to local operators. At night they disperse across the surrounding reef to forage, returning to the same cave positions by dawn in a pattern that makes them one of the most reliably locatable species on the island.

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