Cape lobster
Encyclopedia
The Cape lobster, Homarinus capensis, is a small lobster
that lives off the coast of South Africa
, between Cape Town
and East London. Cape lobsters are elusive and rare, with only fourteen specimens having been collected between 1792 (the date of its first description) and 1992, including only one female.
, Homarus gammarus and Homarus americanus. It is considerably smaller than either of those species, at 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 ) total length, or 4 centimetre carapace
length. It also differs in that its three pairs of claws are covered with hairs, while those of the larger species are hairless. Accounts of the colouration of H. capensis are very variable, from tawny
, red or yellow to "a rather dark olive", similar to Homarus gammarus.
Although Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst
reported that the Cape lobster has five pairs of claws, this was based on an illustration sent to him from Copenhagen. Later authors, including Thomas Roscoe Rede Stebbing
, concluded that the illustrator must have made the error.
in 1792 as Cancer (Astacus) capensis. It was independently described in 1793 by Johan Christian Fabricius
as Astacus flavus, possibly based on the same type specimen. When Friedrich Weber
erected the genus Homarus
in 1795, he included Fabricius' species in it, but this placement was not followed by later authors. The species reached its current classification in 1995, when the monotypic
genus Homarinus was erected.
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
that lives off the coast of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, between Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and East London. Cape lobsters are elusive and rare, with only fourteen specimens having been collected between 1792 (the date of its first description) and 1992, including only one female.
Description
Homarinus capensis is closely related to the large northern lobsters of the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, Homarus gammarus and Homarus americanus. It is considerably smaller than either of those species, at 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 ) total length, or 4 centimetre carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
length. It also differs in that its three pairs of claws are covered with hairs, while those of the larger species are hairless. Accounts of the colouration of H. capensis are very variable, from tawny
Tawny (color)
Tawny is a yellowish brown color. The word means "tan-colored," from Anglo-Norman tauné "associated with the brownish-yellow of tanned leather," from Old French tané "to tan hides," from Medieval Latin tannare, from tannum "crushed oak bark," used in tanning leather, probably from a Celtic source...
, red or yellow to "a rather dark olive", similar to Homarus gammarus.
Although Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst
Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst
Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst was a German naturalist and entomologist from Petershagen, Minden-Ravensberg....
reported that the Cape lobster has five pairs of claws, this was based on an illustration sent to him from Copenhagen. Later authors, including Thomas Roscoe Rede Stebbing
Thomas Roscoe Rede Stebbing
The Reverend Thomas Roscoe Rede Stebbing F.R.S., F.L.S. was a British zoologist, who described himself as "a serf to natural history, principally employed about Crustacea". Educated in London and Oxford, he only took to natural history in his thirties, having worked as a teacher until then...
, concluded that the illustrator must have made the error.
Taxonomy
The Cape lobster was first described by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm HerbstJohann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst
Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst was a German naturalist and entomologist from Petershagen, Minden-Ravensberg....
in 1792 as Cancer (Astacus) capensis. It was independently described in 1793 by Johan Christian Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
as Astacus flavus, possibly based on the same type specimen. When Friedrich Weber
Friedrich Weber (entomologist)
Friedrich Weber was a German entomologist. He was a pupil of Johan Christian Fabricius , and wrote in 1795 at the age of 14 and in 1801...
erected the genus Homarus
Homarus
Homarus is a genus of lobsters, which include the common and commercially significant species Homarus americanus and Homarus gammarus . The Cape lobster, which was formerly in this genus as H...
in 1795, he included Fabricius' species in it, but this placement was not followed by later authors. The species reached its current classification in 1995, when the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus Homarinus was erected.