About Jasus lalandii (H.Milne-Edwards, 1837)
Jasus lalandii (H.Milne-Edwards, 1837) ranges in color from orange to red-brown, with long antennae extending from the front of its head. Its tail fan is colored orange, blue and green. The thorax is spiny, and it has black, stalked eyes. This species occurs in shallow waters from Cape Cross, Namibia to Algoa Bay, South Africa, straddling the Cape of Good Hope. It can be found at depths up to 46 metres (150 ft), and usually lives on rocky bottoms. It is generally found on rocky reefs, where it prefers shelter inside crevices. It is often seen in groups, with just its antennae protruding from the shelter. It swims backward using its tail in emergencies, but normally crawls around on the reef. Its predators include seals, sharks and large fish. It is susceptible to low oxygen levels in the water, which can cause mass strandings of the species. It is called crayfish (kreef in Afrikaans) and is often cooked by braaiing, particularly in coastal areas within its range. However, overfishing has depleted its wild populations.
