mediterranean species found mediterranean_sea edible highly regarded food rare range adults grow foot long claws nocturnal emerging caves shelters night feed eaten humans preyed variety bony fish closest relative occurs atlantic coast west_africa species occur western atlantic_ocean larvae young animals largely unknown distribution found coast mediterranean_sea exception northern adriatic_sea parts near lisbon portugal south including islands azores occurs related species closely resembles description grow total body length centimetres rarely equivalent length individual weigh kilograms second pair antennae enlarged flattened despite claws protective spines instead particularly thicker acting armour adults coloured covered conspicuous high ecology substrate lives rocky sandy depths metres shelter day natural ceilings caves reefs preferring situations entrance exit diet diet consists generally preferred prey according different sources prey detect sediment opened careful use strong pointed eat squid sea eat warmer seasons getting day july day january predators significant predator grey number fish species reported prey including mediterranean rainbow red gag octopus observed eat artificial setting unclear preyed nature life cycle carry base pairs april observed species mate ventral surfaces july august females carry eggs enlarged eggs develop bright orange colour dark brown shed water days development normally generation year larvae known adults initial millimetres long stage antennae stages swim legs stage reach size months old intermediate stages observed single juvenile recorded having caught recognised juvenile young adults rare museum specimen length smallest adult observed adults annually probably migrate cooler waters temperature old period days shed new pale takes weeks completely smaller individuals typically gain weight course difference pronounced larger animals behaviour nocturnal wild predators tends individuals sharing shelter confronted predator claws spines repel predator instead substrate away powerful abdomen tail larger exert stronger grip smaller ones force equivalent weight kilograms pounds required largest individuals predator avoidance explain frequent behaviour carry food items shelter consuming individuals compete food item use enlarged second antennae flip opponent antennae underneath opponent body quickly raising alternative strategy grip opponent begin tail movement engage war taxonomy originally classified genus known time separate genera introduced divided genus genera error including type species genus recognised erected new genus hold species placed placed subfamily differentiated presence genus subfamily distinguished having highly extra spine eye transverse groove segment abdomen species occur differs ornamentation projecting surface high pronounced lower rounded type specimen type locality given original description species simply mediterranean_sea designating type specimen later chose species animal illustrated published book illustration originally reproduced mentioned description particularly fine remains type specimen given working rome time likely type specimen fresh specimen near rome human consumption edible relatively rare species little interest fisheries caught small numbers distribution nets annual catch reported israel catching hand increasingly frequent advent diving animal habitat accessible humans affected population sizes areas
Scyllarides latus