Slipper lobsters have body structure similar to shrimp, but they are more flattened and have a heavy thick outer skin (exoskeleton). Unlike the Maine lobsters served in restaurants, slipper lobsters have no claws. They also have no long filamentous antennae. Their antennae are modified into short, flat, broad plate-like appendages that are used to dig into soft sand or mud. This behavior leads to its nickname "the shovel-nose lobster". They are bottom dwellers and occur at great depths. Maximum sizes range from 5.5 cm (2.2 in) to 50 cm (20 in). Although they are edible, slipper lobsters don't support any major fishery. They are usually caught incidentally in other fishery operations. |