Rock Lobster

Rock lobster
Panulirus homarus

Common on inshore reefs along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, rock lobsters are a popular delicacy in many restaurants. These crustaceans reach 25cm in length. They feed primarily on brown mussels, emerging from their holes at night to feed. When threatened, they can shed a leg to distract the predator. This leg can then re-grow. They are protected by bag limits in KwaZulu-Natal, and they cannot be sold.