"FAMILY:  ENOPLOMETOPIDAE

COMMON NAME:  WESTERN REEF LOBSTER

SCIENTIFIC NAMES:  Enoplometopus occidentalis

FEATURES:  Reef lobsters are by no means common and although this species is recorded from Queensland, yours is the first record for New South Wales. I have yet to photograph this species. Congratulations on your discovery.
Western Reef Lobsters are found across the Indo- Pacific and are strictly nocturnal, only being seen on night dives.  I suspect that as most of the creatures in the Fish Rock Cave live in perpetual dimness, night and day would have little relevance to normal change – over times and they would retain their nocturnal colouration.  Your shot is an excellent study and very typical of the habitat they live in." - Neville Coleman

Special thanks to Neville Coleman for identifying this lobster. Neville has spent much of his life photographing and documenting sea life and has authored over 50 books, mostly on underwater natural history.