Lobsters
Subphylum: Crustacea

The word "lobster" applies to members of two very different decapod infraorders, Astacidea and Palinura. Both have bodies that are covered by a hard integument or shell. They are shaped for swimming and crawling using legs, not pleopods as do shrimp, and have a flattened abdomen area.

Infraorder: Astacidea (clawed lobsters and crayfish)

These are clawed lobsters, and not closely related to spiny lobsters or slipper lobsters, or squat lobsters, which have no claws. The closest relatives of clawed lobsters are the reef lobster Enoplometopus, which are somewhat popular in the marine aquarium trade.

Superfamily: Astacoidea (crayfish)
Family Astacidae
Family Cambaridae
Subfamily Cambarellinae
Subfamily Cambaroidinae
Subfamily Cambarinae
Superfamily: Parastacoidea (crayfish)
Family Parastacidae
Superfamily: Nephropoidea (true lobsters)
Family Thaumastochelidae
Family Nephropidea
Subfamily Neophoberinae
Subfamily Thymopinae
Subfamily Nephropinae
Superfamily: Enoplometopoidae (reef lobsters)
Family Enoplometopidae

Superfamily Enoplometopoidae

Family Enoplometopidae

Enoplometopus

E. debelius Polka-Dot Lobster, Pink Spotted Lobster

E. holthuisi Holthuis's Reef Lobster

E. occidentalis Red Lobster, Hawaiian Lobster

Infraorder: Palinura (spiny and slipper lobsters)

Superfamily Eryonoidea
Family Polychelidae
Superfamily Glypheoidea
Family Glypheidae
Superfamily Palinuroidea
Family Palinuridae
Family Synaxidae
Family Scyllaridae
Subfamily Arctidinae
Subfamily Ibacinae
Subfamily Scyllarinae
Subfamily Theninae

Superfamily Palinuroidea

Family Palinuridae

Panulirus

P. femoristriga Striped-leg Spiny Lobster

P. interruptus California Spiny Lobster

P. ornatus Ornate Spiny Lobster

P. penicillatus Tufted / Hawaiian Blue Spiny Lobster

P. versicolor Purple Spiny Lobster, Painted Crayfish, Blue Spiny Lobster

Family Scyllaridae
Subfamily Arctidinae

Usually called slipper or shovel-nosed lobsters, and containing about 70 species. They have broad flat bodies with short scale-like antennae. Most are small, i.e., about 12 inches (30 cm) and weigh generally not more than 5 pounds. Only a few makes it into the aquarium trade, as most are considered human food items.