European spiny lobster
Palinurus elephas
Sighting evidence at Grotte de la Triperie, Marseille Calanques
Photo: Albertini maridom · CC BY-NC
The European spiny lobster is a crevice-dwelling crustacean that shelters inside caves and rocky overhangs by day and emerges to forage at night. Individuals within Calanques National Park are notably large compared to fished zones, as the reserve protection allows them to reach their full lifespan. They play an important grazing role on sea urchins and encrusting invertebrates, helping to maintain biotic diversity on rocky substrates.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
European spiny lobster is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.