 Spiny lobsters can be easily distinguished from true lobsters by their very long, thick, spiny antennae, by the lack of chelae (claws) on the first four pairs of walking legs, although the females of most species have a small claw on the fifth pair, and by a particularly specialized larval phase called phyllosoma.True lobsters have much smaller antennae and claws on the first three pairs of legs, with the first being particularly enlarged.Spiny lobsters typically have a slightly compressed carapace, lacking any lateral ridges.