Tristan rock lobster

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Tristan rock lobster
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Palinuridae
Genus: Jasus
Species: J. tristani
Binomial name
Jasus tristani
Holthuis, 1963

The Tristan rock lobster, Jasus tristani, is a species of rock lobster endemic to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago and Vema Seamount, 1,680 km north-east of Tristan .[1] It is very closely related to J. paulensis and these two may represent a single species.[2] The Tristan rock lobster features on the coat of arms and the flag of Tristan da Cunha. Until 1950, the Tristan rock lobster was only fished for local consumption, but after that time, companies such as the South Atlantic Islands Development Corporation have exploited the rock lobster population. Production peaked in the 1970s, with over 800 tonnes being collected in some years, but the industry has since waned, with less than 400 t being caught most years since 1992.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lipke Holthuis (1991). Marine lobsters of the world. Food and Agriculture Organization.
  2. ^ J. R. Ovenden, J. D. Booth and A. J. Smolenski (1997). Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of red and green rock lobsters (genus Jasus). Marine and Freshwater Research 48 (8): 1131–1136. doi:10.1071/MF97192. 
  3. ^ Global Capture Production 1950-2004. Food and Agriculture Organization.