CIBED - - Double-spine Spiny-lobster

Panulirus penicillatus Double-spine Spiny-lobster Koura ^RR

f.PALINURIDAE Spiny-lobsters

Panulirus penicillatus Double-spine Spiny-lobster Koura ^RR

f.PALINURIDAE Spiny-lobsters

Cook Islands Status Summary

Show Notes

Intl. NamesDouble‑spine Spiny‑lobster ^EN Double‑spine Crayfish ^EN Double‑spine Rock‑lobster ^EN Pronghorn Crayfish ^EN Pronghorn Rock‑lobster ^EN Pronghorn Spiny‑lobster ^EN Tufted Spiny‑lobster ^EN Langouste Fourchette ^FR

Local NamesKoura^RR,AT Kōura^{MG,MK,MT,AK,TNw} Kōura Tai^AK Kōula^TNs Ula^PK,NS

Pacific NamesNo Content

Sci. NamesPanulirus penicillatus (accepted name) , Astacus penicillatus, Palinurus ehrenbergi, Palinurus gigas, Palinurus penicillatus

High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Arthropods, sp.Crustaceans, f.Spiny-lobsters - Spiny Lobster

High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.ARTHROPODA, sp.CRUSTACEA, c.MALACOSTRACA, sc.EUMALACOSTRACA, spo.Eucarida, o.Decapoda, so.Pleocyemata, io.Achelata, f.PALINURIDAE

Natl. PresencePresent

Sth. PresenceRR^PMG⁺⁺⁺AT⁺⁺⁺MK⁺⁺⁺MT?AK^PPL?MN?TK⁺⁺⁺⁺

Nth. PresenceTN?MH?RK?PK^PNS?SW?

VouchersMG²⁰⁰⁰ MK²⁰⁰¹ AK²⁰⁰⁰ PK²⁰⁰⁴ CIS¹⁹⁸⁰

Local OriginNative; Resident

Global RangeNative: e.Africa - Tuamotu, Hawai‘i - Galapagos - Mexico, n. to s.Japan.;

HabitatAquatic; Marine; Nearshore, Reef-flat, Shallow slope

ThreatenedNo Content

InvasivenessNo Content

BiosecurityNo Content

Medical StatusNo Content

Harmful StatusHarmful; poisonous to eat

UsesFlesh food

IdentificationCarapace to 100mm long. Males reddish-brown, while females are usually greenish above. Antennae 1x total body length. Greenish to red-brown, with pale spots on thorax, but few on abdomen. Has two pairs of spines on the flat plate between the feelers. In older males the carapace is very large in comparison to the tail.

Similar SpeciesThe only species with two pairs of spines on the plate between the feelers.

Interest NoteHides during the day in dark recesses on Outer Reef-slope tomore... 10m during the day. At night move through the surge channels to feed on the reef crest and outer reef-flat, especially when the tide is high on dark nights.

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Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Double-spine Spiny-lobster ^EN Double-spine Crayfish^EN Double-spine Rock-lobster^EN Pronghorn Crayfish^EN Pronghorn Rock-lobster^EN Pronghorn Spiny-lobster^EN Tufted Spiny-lobster^EN Langouste Fourchette^FR

Pacific Names

No Pacific Names

Local Names

Koura^RR,AT Kōura^{MG,MK,MT,AK,TNw} Kōura Tai^AK Kōula^TNs Ula^PK,NS

National Name: Koura ^RR

Island	Status	Main name
National name	RR	Koura
Rarotonga	P	Koura
Mangaia	+++	Kōura
Ātiu	+++	Koura
Ma‘uke	+++	Kōura
Miti‘āro		Kōura
Aitutaki	P	Kōura / Kōura Tai
Palmerston		?P,?N
Tongareva-write		Kōura
Tongareva-speak		Kōula
Manihiki		?P,?N
Rakahanga		?P,?N
Pukapuka	P	Ula
Nassau		Ula

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

National Distribution & Vouchers

National Presence:

Present

Oceanic

islands: [ , {label: 'Rarotonga', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 404.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 222, labelTop: 404} , {label: 'Mangaia', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 427.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 274, labelTop: 426} , {label: 'Ātiu', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 372.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 382} , {label: 'Ma‘uke', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 374.5, left: 282.5, labelLeft: 284, labelTop: 385} , {label: 'Miti‘āro', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 358.5, left: 274.5, labelLeft: 283, labelTop: 351} , {label: 'Aitutaki', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 334.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 209, labelTop: 321} , {label: 'Palmerston', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 309.5, left: 112.5, labelLeft: 124, labelTop: 309} , {label: 'Manuae', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 346.5, left: 234.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 338} , {label: 'Takūtea', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 362.5, left: 254.5, labelLeft: 211, labelTop: 363} , {label: 'Tongareva', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 32.5, left: 260.5, labelLeft: 205, labelTop: 31} , {label: 'Manihiki', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 80.5, left: 175.5, labelLeft: 187, labelTop: 80} , {label: 'Rakahanga', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 63.5, left: 173.5, labelLeft: 186, labelTop: 63} , {label: 'Pukapuka', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 88.5, left: 33.5, labelLeft: 45, labelTop: 88} , {label: 'Nassau', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 108.5, left: 46.5, labelLeft: 59, labelTop: 108} , {label: 'Suwarrow', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 162.5, left: 115.5, labelLeft: 127, labelTop: 162} ] , legend: [{label: 'Not Assessed', top: 235, stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#ffffff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: 'Present', top: 250, stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Present', top: 265, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GWR', tris: '#ACACAC', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Absent', top: 280, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Absent', top: 295, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RWR', tris: '#c0c0c0', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Intercepted', top: 312, stroke: '#990000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RDR', tris: '#000000', trif: '#000000'}, {label: 'Extirpated/Extinct', top: 331, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'RGR', tris: '#660000', trif: '#CC0000'} ]

Island	Status
Rarotonga	Present
Mangaia	+++
Ātiu	+++
Ma‘uke	+++
Miti‘āro
Aitutaki	Present
Palmerston
Manuae
Takūtea	++++
Tongareva
Manihiki
Rakahanga
Pukapuka	Present
Nassau
Suwarrow

Vouchers for:
Panulirus penicillatus

Cook Islands _____ 1980 1csP specimen+photo specimen+photo, 1980s, J.Uffindell, JU-104, in Te Papa Museum

Southern

Northern

Oceanic

Rarotonga

Mangaia _____ 2000 1cs specimen several specimen, College, 9/2000, ID G.McCormack.

Ātiu

Ma‘uke _____ 2001 2fs fieldspecimen fieldspecimen, College collection, 3/2001, ID G.McCormack.

Miti‘āro

Aitutaki _____ 2000 2fs fieldspecimen fieldspecimen, NBSAP School, 12/2000, ID G.McCormack.

Palmerston

Manuae

Takūtea

Tongareva

Manihiki

Rakahanga

Pukapuka _____ 2004 5ir informant report informant report, 2/2004, to G.McCormack.

Nassau

Suwarrow

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

no data available

Threatened

no data available

Invasive/Pest Status

no data available

Biosecurity

Medicinal

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.07.05 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
Please refer to our use policy.

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