(Quoy and Gaimard, 1825)
Diagnosis:
Antennular plate with two large widely separated spines, with scattered small spinules behind these. Exopod of third maxilliped present, with flagellum. Upper surface abdomen pubescent in grooves only. Transverse groove of abdominal somites with straight margins, not crenulated. Transverse grooves of abdominal somites 2 to 4 join the groove along the anterior margin of the corresponding pleuron. Anterior margin of pleuron abdominal somite two with distinct teeth.
Colour: carapace with yellowish, reddish and brownish colour, not spotted. Abdomen bright to dark purple with a conspicuous transverse yellow band over the middle of each somite. Legs rather uniform in colour, with a few spots, but not streaked. Antennulae rather uniform in colour.
Type:
Type locality: "Iles Sandwich" ( = Hawaiian Islands). Type material no longer extant in MP in 1989.
Geographical Distribution:
Only known from the Hawaiian Islands, including Pearl and Hermes Reef, and Laysan Island.
Habitat and Biology:
The species has been reported from depths down to 143 m, but usually in shallow water, in well protected places on a rocky substrate, under rocks and in rock crevices. The animals are nocturnal.
Size:
Total body length to 40 cm, carapace length to 12 cm.
Interest to Fisheries:
Used as food throughout its range. Fished with traps or nets. Also taken by hand, in daytime by diving, at night with lights and spears. Sold fresh in local markets. The 1971 USA fishery statistics indicate a total of 5 725 pounds ( = 2 600 kg) of lobsters caught in the Hawaiian Islands, of which 5 371 pounds in Oahu, 263 pounds in Maui, 70 pounds in Hawaii and 21 pounds in Lanai. Of these slightly more were caught in gill nets (3253 pounds) than in traps (2113 pounds) and 339 pounds were registered as fished by hand. These figures include the catches of P. penicillatus.