Habitat: Shallow-water ( Distribution: Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Natural History Notes: A study conducted by Guzman and Tewfik (2004) concluded that the spiny lobsters populations within the archipelago of Bocas del Toro are overexploited. The mean carapace length of this species is well below the standard mean that was reported for this species in other areas of the Caribbean. This decrease has been found to be related to the annual and lifetime egg production within a population. In addition to size, the species abundance and the percent maturity levels were also lower. Therefore, the study suggested that a revision of management strategies should be considered, such as a fishing seasonal closure during reproduction peaks. Characteristics: This lobster has a brown-gray colored carapace, with reddish and yellow spots, legs striped in brown and yellow. It is covered with hard little spines which it uses to protect itself from predators such as large fish, morays and nurse sharks. Spiny lobsters feed on molluscs and other marine invertebrates and can grow up to 60 cm in lenght. This species has an average carapace length of 52.0 mm. It is a nocturnal omnivore with varying diurnal den-dwelling preferences. It is highly migratory.