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The spiny lobster Palinurus elephas in Scottish waters

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Abstract

Observations have been made on the biology of spiny lobsters, Palinurus elephas Fabr., caught by divers on the west coast of Scotland from 1972 to 1975. P. elephas in this Scottish population show the same length/carapace length relationship as spiny lobsters taken from the west of Ireland. It occurs inshore during the period April to October on shallow rocky reefs in depths of 5 to 20 m. In females, a pre-mating moult occurs in the inshore areas in late summer. Soon after, mating takes place and the spermatophores are deposited on the sternum of the female. The eggs, which are shed within 1 week to 10 days, are then carried by the female throughout the winter, and hatch in the following spring. Offshore migration takes place in the autumn, after mating and egg laying, and inshore migration takes place in the spring and summer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dunstaffnage Marine Research Laboratory, Oban, Argyll, Scotland

    A. D. Ansell & L. Robb

  2. Dunstaffnage Marine Research Laboratory, Scottish Marine Biological Association, P.O. Box 3, PA34 4AD, Oban, Argyll, Scotland

    A. D. Ansell

Authors
  1. A. D. Ansell
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  2. L. Robb
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Communicated by J.H.S. Blaxter, Oban

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Ansell, A.D., Robb, L. The spiny lobster Palinurus elephas in Scottish waters. Mar. Biol. 43, 63–70 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392572

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392572

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