Jasus frontalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jasus frontalis |
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Jasus
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frontalis
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The Jasus frontalis, also known as the Juan Fernández rock lobster, is a special kind of spiny lobster. It belongs to the Jasus group of lobsters. You can find these lobsters living around the Juan Fernández Islands and the Desventuradas Islands. These islands are located in the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean.
What They Look Like and How They Grow
Male Juan Fernández rock lobsters can grow up to 48 centimetres (19 in) long. Their carapace (the hard shell covering their head and body) can be about 22 cm or 8.7 in long. Female lobsters are a bit smaller. They can reach 46 cm (18 in) in total length, with a carapace of about 19 cm or 7.5 in.
Female lobsters become ready to have babies when they are about seven years old. By then, their carapace is usually between 75–77 mm (3.0–3.0 in) long. The Juan Fernández rock lobster is different from two other similar lobster species, Jasus tristani and Jasus paulensis. It does not have special bumps or patterns on the first part of its tail section.
Where They Live and How They Are Fished
Juan Fernández rock lobsters live in the waters around the Juan Fernández Islands and the Desventuradas Islands. These islands are off the coast of Chile. They can be found in water that is 2–200 metres (7–656 ft) deep. The water temperature where they live is usually between 13–19 °C (55–66 °F).
Long ago, when explorers like Jacob Roggeveen (in 1722) and George Anson (in 1741) visited the area, they found many of these lobsters. They were easy to catch back then.
Today, people still fish for J. frontalis to sell them. This is called commercial fishing. The IUCN Red List keeps track of how many animals are left in the wild. They say that even though more people are trying to catch these lobsters, fewer are being caught. This means the number of lobsters might be going down. However, there isn't enough clear information right now to know exactly how many lobsters are left or what their future looks like. Scientists need more data to understand their conservation status.
See also
In Spanish: Langosta de Juan Fernández para niños
