The spiny lobster is generally a red invertebrate with some yellow or brown bands, especially in the youngest individual. The two pairs of antennae are yellow and the second pair is longer than their body and can measure up to 80 cm. As with the rest of the decapods, it has 5 pairs of legs for walking, but no pincers. Its maximum size is 50 cm. The adults can weigh up to 8 kg.

It is an animal with night habits, it lives on rocky beds and during the day it hides in caves or cracks, often with only its antennae outside.  Although it is usually at depths of between 40 and 70 m, from November to March it migrates to deeper waters. It feeds on bivalves and snails, whose shells it is able to break despite not having pincers, and also carrion. The spiny lobster is oviparous. Females have been seen with eggs in September and October.

The great commercial value of the species as it is highly appreciated gastronomically, means that it is subject to overfishing that prevents the populations from recovering.

Conservation status