THE SPINY LOBSTER OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA. 297 



about, but at times it is straightened out and the pleopods aid in buoying up the body 



while more rapid movements are accomplished. 



The tail is flexed under the body while the spiny lobster is at rest and the antennas 



are spread outward. One or more legs sometimes move back and forth or from the 



body outward with slow rhythmic movements. The flagellar of the antennules are 



drawn frequently through the setae of the third maxillipeds, probably for the purpose 



of cleansing the cilia of sediment or growths of red algae and diatoms which sometimes 



burden the cilia. 



FOOD. 



The natural food of the spiny lobster consists of worms, small mollusks, and probably 

 smaller crustaceans. The lobsters are often scavengers, for it has been observed that they 

 eat a great variety of food, such as bits of fish, and fish offal, meat, bits of crushed blue 

 crab, pieces of clams, conchs, and garbage. The fishermen bait their traps with beef 

 ribs or fish, but it has been found that bait is nonessential, since larger catches have 

 been made at times when no bait was used than when the traps were baited. 



Bits of seaweed have been found in the stomachs of a few spiny lobsters, but it 

 is supposed that this material was ingested with small crustaceans or other small animals 

 and does not form a part of the regular diet, since it was scarcely acted upon by the 

 strong digestive fluids. 



Spiny lobsters in captivity have been fed successfully on fish — either fresh, dried, 



or salted — clams, conchs, or any kind of meat scraps. Plenty of food should be provided 



and some regularity in feeding should be observed. The lobsters are not cannibalistic 



naturally, but when food is scarce they will not hesitate to eat the smaller individuals 



or those that have recently molted. Cannibalism has been observed more particularly 



among the larger males, and they should be kept separated from the spawning females 



and smaller individuals. 



ENEMIES. 



The spiny lobster at all stages of its existence is the prey of numerous enemies. 

 The greatest losses no doubt occur during the larval development, w r hen great numbers 

 of them are probably eaten by pelagic animals. The black grouper, the mutton fish, 

 and the jew fish are known to devour adult spiny lobsters, since the remains are found 

 frequently in the stomachs of these fish. The stomach of a jew fish weighing about 

 350 pounds was found to contain 16 spiny lobsters of marketable size. 



MODES OF PROTECTION. 



The stiff heavy antennae are used to ward off the attacks of enemies. They are 

 raised upward or backward according to the direction of the attack or thrust directly 

 forward and held rigidly, thus preventing large fishes or other animals from reaching 

 the body. The flagellae are rather brittle and break off when an attempt is made to 

 draw the spiny lobster along by them. The loss of the flagellae is the most common 

 mutilation observed. 



The heavy armature and sharp forward-pointing spines of the carapace form an 

 effective means of defense, making it almost impossible for a person to escape injury 

 while handling live spiny lobsters for examination. The legs separate readily from the 

 body, especially in large individuals, and escape from capture is often effected in 

 this way. 



