Lobster slipper

Fig. 12.1 Phylogeny of decapod crustaceans, showing that lobster is not a monophyletic grouping, but rather a body form. The clades representing the lobsters that we discuss in this chapter - clawed, spiny and slipper lobsters - are shaded in this figure. Clawed lobsters are more closely related to freshwater crayfishes than spiny and slipper lobsters, which are more closely related to true and hermit crabs, the latter in a group (Anomala) that includes animals also referred to as lobsters. Reproduced with modifications from Dixon et al. (2003). Copyright 2003 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands...

In addition, mating behavior in both spiny and slipper lobsters seems to be simpler and faster than in clawed lobsters, a fact that further hinders our ability to collect data (Lipcius et al. 1983). In their 11-month study, Barshaw and Spanier (1994) failed to observe mating between slipper lobsters. 

The structures of groups of clawed, spiny, and slipper lobsters in the field are, at first sight, very different. However, there are similarities in their use of chemical communication in social interactions clawed and spiny lobsters establish dominance hierarchies that are maintained, at least partially, via urinary chemical cues. 

Although much less is known about slipper lobsters, one species (the Mediterranean slipper lobster, Scyllarides latus) is known to establish and maintain an almost linear dominance hierarchy in semi-naturalistic conditions (Barshaw and Spanier 1994). Interestingly, females were reported to interact more often than males, which were not observed to engage in intrasexual agonistic encounters (Barshaw and Spanier 1994). 

Thus, clawed, spiny, and slipper lobsters exhibit similar behaviors they all engage in agonistic encounters that result in the establishment of a dominance hierarchy, and urine is involved in maintaining it without the need for further, possibly dangerous, combat. Hierarchy maintenance through individual recognition is not restricted to lobsters, as it is also found in mantis shrimp (Mead and Caldwell, Chap. 11) and hermit crabs (Gherardi and Tricarico, Chap. 15). 

As seen above, clawed, spiny, and slipper lobsters have very different lifestyles, and this influences how chemicals are used in their behavioral interactions. Clawed lobsters lead mostly solitary lives and do not cohabitate except when mating, a process controlled by sex pheromones (Atema and Cobb 1980). Some spiny lobsters and slipper lobsters, on the other hand, share communal shelters (Berry 1971 Berrill 1975 Cobb 1981 Zimmer-Faust et al. 1985 Spanier and Almog-Shtayer 1992) (Fig. 12.6a), a behavior that improves survival against predation (Eggleston et al. 1990 Mintz et al. 1994 Weiss et al. 2008). These aggregations are... 

Although some spiny lobsters and slipper lobsters aggregate, many factors influence this behavior. For example, the introduction of a predator causes P. argus individuals to change the preferred shelter size (Eggleston and Lipcius 1992). When there is no predation risk, small spiny lobsters choose either small- or... 

Barshaw D, Spanier E (1994) The undiscovered lobster a first look at the social behaviour of the Mediterranean slipper lobster Scyllarides latus (Decapoda, Scyllaridae). Crustaceana 67 187-197... 

Morin TD, MacDonald CD (1984) Occurrence of the slipper lobster Scyllarides haanii in the Hawaiian archipelago. Proc Biol Soc Wash 97 404-407... 

Spanier E, Almog-Shtayer G (1992) Shelter preferences in the Mediterranean slipper lobster effects of physical properties. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 164 103-116... 

The larval cycle of several species of Palinurid lobsters has been successfully completed. In the spiny and rock lobsters of the family Palinuridae this has been restricted to research-scale production. In contrast, for slipper lobsters... 

Palinoures Jasus, Palinurus (crawfish), Scyllarus (slipper lobster)... 

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