Slipper Lobster

ID points

• Antennae flattened into two shovel-like plates held straight out in front
• Body flat, broad and thick, with a rough shell surface
• Clings motionless upside down under reef ledges

Basics

Family

Scyllaridae

Length

15–30 cm

Depth

1-50 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Under reef overhangs and in rock crevices

Habitat

Reef ledges and rock crevices

Diet

Molluscs, carrion

Easily confused with

Brittle StarFive slender arms clearly set off from the central discFlatheadHead extremely flat and broad, with the eyes on topLizardfishFlat lizard-like head with a very wide mouth

Fun fact

The Slipper Lobster has no claws at all and an extremely flattened body, and its broad shovel-like antennal plates let it slide along the bottom of the reef to slip away from predators.