Marine Species Identification Portal : Three-spot slipper lobster

Holthuis, 1960

Diagnosis:
The cervical incision is narrow and distinct though short. The epistome bears 2 tubercles between the inner teeth. Grooves on the carapace distinct. Tubercles of carapace and abdomen low, hairs inconspicuous. Pregastric and gastric teeth well-defined. Carpus of first pereiopod with a swollen hump in the upper basal part; a very shallow groove extends over this hump.
Abdominal somites without a broad elevated median ridge, but with an indication of a median longitudinal line. First abdominal somite with a circular median spot, and two irregular lateral spots. Sternite of second abdominal somite in male serrate, with median incision usually deeper than the rest. Faint elevated median line visible on abdominal somites 2 to 5. Outline of the posterior margin of the pleura of the second abdominal somite concave in the middle through the presence of a strong tooth.

Type:
Type locality: "off the Suriname coast (6°41'N, 55°26.5'W, depth 23 fathoms [ = 42 m], bottom mud, shells, and coral)". Holotype male in RMNH, no. D 12735.

Geographical Distribution:
Western Atlantic region: north coast of South America from Venezuela (Sucre State) to Brazil (Ceará State).

Habitat and Biology:
Reported from depths between 42 and 80 m, substrate mud.

Size:
Total body length to 25 cm; carapace lengths of 6 to 9 cm have been reported.

Interest to Fisheries:
Minor. The species is sometimes taken in trawls and dredges, but not in commercially interesting quantities. Fausto Filho (1968: 27, 28) classed this species as of "insignificante valor comercial": Opresko et al. (1973: 38) remarked that "the species probably could be taken commercially by either trawl or trap if sufficient populations are found ".

Three-spot slipper lobster (Scyllarides delfosi)