Ibacus novemdentatus

(Gibbes, 1850)

Vernacular names
English : Smooth fan lobster
French : Cigale de mer à neuf carènes

Classification
Class : Malacostraca
Order : Decapoda
Family : Scyllaridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to a total length of 19 cm. Very flat carapace with three dorsal ridges. Back part of carapace smaller and segmented. Front part of carapace shows rows of spines on front and sides. Coloration reddish brown.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from East Africa to South Japan, north and western Australia, east to Philippines. Lives in sandy and muddy areas, often not far from coasts, from 30 to 400 m deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species remains common and has a huge range. In some areas, it is targeted by fisheries as an important food-item, leading to declines.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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