Painted Spiny Lobster

Panulirus versicolor

Sighting evidence at Bandar Khayran, Muscat

Shelters in reef crevices during the day and emerges at night to scavenge detritus and small invertebrates. Unlike clawed lobsters they rely entirely on their spiny antennae for defense, creating a rasping noise to deter predators. Bandar Khayran's mangrove-backed reefs provide ideal juvenile habitat.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Painted 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.