FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

992 Lobsters
Metanephrops andamanicus (Wood-Mason, 1891) NEA
En - Andaman lobster; Fr - Langoustine andamane;
Sp - Cigala de Andamán.
Maximum total body length 20 cm, commonly between
15 and 18 cm. On hard mud in depths from
250 to 750 m, but mostly from 300 to 450 m; probably
lives in burrows. In the Western Central Pacific,
so far only taken in very small numbers during
experimental deep-water trawling operations, but
its high abundance just north of the Philippines in
the South China Sea may indicate that it has some
fishery potential in the area. Indo-West Pacific from
eastern Africa to the Andaman Sea, the South China
Sea, Indonesia, and perhaps also Papua New
Guinea.
Metanephrops australiensis (Bruce, 1966)
En - Northwest lobster.
Maximum total body length 18 cm. At depths from
418 to 500 m, on firm sediments such as Globigerina
ooze; probably lives in burrows. In the area,
so far only taken in few numbers during experimental
deep-water trawling operations. However, as
this lobster is the main component of the commercial
Metanephrops fishery in northwestern Australia,
more knowledge of its fishing grounds may
reveal that it has also some fishery potential elsewhere
in the Western Central Pacific. Known from
the Philippines, Indonesia, and northwestern Australia.
(after Alcock, 1894)
(after Bruce, 1966)