Microhabitat and Behavior of Settled Pueruli and Juveniles of the Japanese Spiny Lobster Panulirus japonicus at Kominato, Japan

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Abstract
Field surveys were conducted to understand the benthic ecology of the settled puerulus and juvenile stages, up to 23-mm carapace length, of the Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus. Both the settled puerulus and juvenile stages were found individually in small holes near algae on the side or underside of rocks or boulders in nearshore shallow waters. The study suggested that settled pueruli and juveniles have a diurnal homing ability; they hid in their holes during daytime and emerged at night, then returned to the same holes that it used during the puerulus stage, for some period after molting. As juveniles became larger, they moved to larger holes. The peak settlement in October 1983 was observed in the seventh day after the new moon.

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