19. Mud Spiny Lobster

Common Name: Mada Issa, Mada Pokirissa 

Scientific Name:   Panulirus polyphagus

Animal Family: Palinuridae

Population:  Least Concern

Description: Panulirus polyphagus,  the mud spiny lobster ,is a species of crustacean that lives on shallow rocky reefs and muddy substrates in the topical indo- pacific region.

Habitat: Though is prefers muddy sea bottom as its habitat it relishes an environment of greenish coloured muddy water near river mouths .it is commonly found at a depth range of 5-15 cm , occasionally down to 90m.

Foods: In general, palinurids are mainly considered carnivores, usually feeding upon sluggish, easily captured animals where most material is eaten alive or freshly killed .

18. Ornate Rock Lobster or Ornate Spiny Lobster

Common Name:   Diwi Issa, Diwi Pokirissa

Scientific Name:   Panulirus ornatus

Animal Family: Palinuridae

Population: Least Concern

Description: The ornate rock lobster is a larger specimen with a blue- green carapace.It is characterized by its large frontal horns, as well as as distinct patterning with stripes and sport of various colors throughout its body .its walking legs have intricate stripe patterns, making it appear almost spider- like.

Habitat:Through this species prefers brackish water habitat in the close proximity of rivers and river mouths, they are able to live in a habitat full of rocky areas and coral reefs on muddy and sandy sea bottoms. found solitary or in pairs.  commonly found at a depth of 5-10 cm, and at times 1-50 cm.

Foods: While lobsters will eat almost anything, their favourite diet consists mostly of snails, clams, crabs, and urchins. 

17. Scalloped Spiny Lobster

Common Name:  Wali issa, Wali Pokirissa

Scientific Name:   Panulirus homarus

Animal Family: Palinuridae 

Population:   Least Concern 

Description:    Grows up to 20-32 cm. It has a green  mottled carapace with red spines mostly on anterior part of carapace. Antennular plate with two pairs of spines and a patch of smaller spines between them. Antennular with conspicuous banding. Short frontal horns. Transverse grooves with scalloped margin on abdominal 2-5. 

Habitat:   Being nocturnal it prefers crevices in rock and sandstone reefs, often shallow, 5-10 m, sometimes down to 90 m.

Foods:   Small crustaceans, molluscs, worms and algae.

16. Bamboo Lobster or Blue Spiny Lobster

Common Name:   Raja issa-or-raja-pokirissa  

Scientific Name:   Panulirus versicolor 

Animal Family:   Palinuridae

Population:   Least Concern 

Description:   Grows up to 40 cm. Lateral white stripes across each abdominal somite and blue -black patches and white line on carapace. Two white bands on each leg. Curved frontal horns and two pairs of small spines on antennular plate. Females lay eggs and carry their eggs. Juveniles have a bright blue coloration.  

Habitat:   Most commonly found at a depth range of 10-15 m, occasionally at a depth range of 1- 40 m. It prefers to Hide in the cervices found in rocky areas and coral reefs and especially in a clean water.

Foods:   Fresh caught arthropods, other crustaceans, and occasional small fish.