About Arctides regalis Holthuis, 1963
Arctides regalis has a dark red body and is covered in black bristles. As a member of the family Scyllaridae, this species shares the group’s common characteristic of paddle-shaped antennae. The species has an average total length of 17 cm. For adult females, carapace length ranges from 41 to 55 mm, while for adult males it ranges from 40 to 49 mm. Arctides regalis commonly feeds on snails, clams, shrimp, and crabs. To access the soft body of its prey, the lobster uses a wedging motion with its dactyli to open prey and extract the flesh. This lobster is described as shy; individuals have been observed fleeing from divers during the day. It is a nocturnal species, becoming more active and social at night. Arctides regalis is distributed across the tropical Indo-Pacific region, found in multiple countries across Africa, Asia, and Oceania. It is a benthic species. Its orange-red coloration allows it to blend in with Tubastraea coral, which grows in the lobster’s daytime hiding spots. During the day, groups of these lobsters hide on the walls and ceilings of underwater caves. At night, scuba divers have recorded sightings of this lobster on coral reefs at depths between 5 and 50 meters.
