Depth
Scyllarus · Crustaceans (Crabs, Shrimps & Lobsters)

Small European Locust Lobster

Scyllarus arctus

0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Reef & Open
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Malacostraca
Genus Scyllarus
Species arctus

Crustacean

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationA small, flat-bodied slipper lobster with a broad, rounded carapace and flattened, plate-like antennae. Reddish-brown to orange-brown with lighter patches. Similar in shape to the Mediterranean slipper lobster but much smaller.
  • SizeBody length up to 16 cm. Much smaller than the larger slipper lobster species.
  • Social HabitSolitary and nocturnal. Hides under rocks and in crevices during the day.
  • HabitatRocky reefs and boulder fields with plenty of shelter. Found on hard substrates with overhangs and crevices.
  • Depth4 to 50 m. Common between 5 and 30 m in suitable rocky habitat.
  • Feeds OnSmall invertebrates, detritus, and organic matter. Forages on the reef at night.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Common in Maltese waters.
  • DescriptionScyllarus arctus is the smaller and more commonly encountered of the two slipper lobster species in Malta. Unlike the heavily exploited Mediterranean slipper lobster, this species is too small to be of commercial interest and is therefore more frequently seen by divers. It is often spotted on night dives, walking slowly across rocky surfaces with its distinctive flat antennae held out in front.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found across the Mediterranean, inhabiting reef & open environments. Active from the surface down to 40m depth.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Reef & Open habitats, typically at depths of 0-40m. Most commonly encountered by divers at the shallower end of its range.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Small European Locust Lobster species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Detritivore that sifts through soft sediment to extract organic matter and small invertebrates. Forages nocturnally on sandy and muddy bottoms.

Detritivore

Reproduction

Females carry small clutches of eggs on their pleopods. Larvae undergo a characteristic planktonic stage before settling on soft substrates.

Egg carrier

Behaviour & Defence

Its flattened, heavily armoured body allows it to press tightly against the substrate or wedge into crevices. Camouflage colouration closely matches surrounding sediment.

Flattened armour

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

The following dive sites offer strong habitat match for Scyllarus arctus. All are accessible on a guided dive with diveshack.

5-30m
North Malta

Cirkewwa

Rocky reef with caves, arches and ledges hosting a rich diversity of reef species.

View dive site ›
5-50m
Gozo

Blue Hole

One of the Med's most famous reef dive sites. Rocky walls and archways covered in life.

View dive site ›
18-36m
South Malta

Um El Faroud

The wreck lies on a sandy bottom surrounded by rocky reef -- a diverse habitat attracting reef species.

View dive site ›
IUCN Red List Least Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes to prey availability.

Source: iNaturalist Guide #888
by Lesley Clements (CC BY-SA)
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide