Aesop slipper lobster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aesop slipper lobster |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Scyllarides
|
| Species: |
haanii
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Aesop slipper lobster (Scyllarides haanii) is a fascinating sea creature. It's a type of crustacean, like a crab or shrimp, but it looks a bit different. It belongs to a group called decapods and is part of the slipper lobster family, Scyllaridae. People also call it the humpbacked slipper lobster or ridgeback slipper lobster because of its unique shape.
What is the Aesop Slipper Lobster Like?
The Aesop slipper lobster can grow quite large. It can reach a body length of up to 50.5 cm (20 in). That's about 20 inches long! However, they are usually found between 16 and 30 cm (6 and 12 in) long. This makes it one of the biggest species in the Scyllarides group.
This lobster likes to be alone. During the day, it hides in safe spots. When night comes, it goes out to find food. Its favorite meal is bivalves, which are creatures like clams and oysters.
Where Does the Aesop Slipper Lobster Live?
The Aesop slipper lobster lives across a very wide area. You can find it in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes parts of the eastern and western Indian Ocean. It also lives all over the Pacific Ocean. Even though it covers a large area, it's not super common in any one place.
This lobster prefers warm coastal waters. It lives on coral reefs and rocky ocean bottoms. In winter and early spring, it stays in shallower areas. But when it's time to have babies, it moves to deeper waters. Scientists have found these lobsters at depths from 10–135 m (30–440 ft).
Is the Aesop Slipper Lobster Endangered?
People do fish for the Aesop slipper lobster. It's also often caught by accident in other lobster fisheries. This can cause its numbers to go down in some local areas.
However, this lobster lives in many different places around the world. It also lives in at least one special protected area where fishing is not allowed. Because of its wide distribution and these protected spots, the IUCN (a group that checks on wildlife) says it is a least concern species. This means it is not currently at high risk of disappearing.
