Ornate Crayfish — Reef Lagoon species
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The seafloor · Species № 08

Ornate Crayfish

Panulirus ornatus

The painted giant of the tropical reef

Bundle available — save $21.752 products
Habitat
Shallow coral and rocky reef, tucked under ledges; also sand and seagrass ground
Typical size
Commonly 30–40 cm; to ~50 cm (body, not feelers)
Depth
30–40 cm; to ~50 cm (body, not feelers)Shallow reef, ~1–20 m (occasionally 50 m+)
Region
Northern Australia, WA around the top to central NSW; Torres Strait stronghold
The range

Shop the Ornate Crayfish

The full range for this species. New pieces land as they come off the boat.

Ornate Rock Lobster Bundle
Ornate Rock Lobster Bundle
Everything in one pack — the full set for this species.
Save $21.75
$120.00 $141.75
Shop the bundle
Ornate Rock Lobster Bundle
Bundle
Ornate Rock Lobster Bundle
$120.00 $141.75
 ORNATE CRAYFISH
T-Shirt
ORNATE CRAYFISH
$54.95
From reef to canvas

Painted from the real thing

Ornate Crayfish — the real fish
The fish
Ornate Crayfish — the hand-painted design
The painting

Painted from the real reference — species-accurate, not a cartoon.

Hand-painted Ornate Crayfish, shown at its preferred depth
Panulirus ornatus · painted from the real reference
Know the fish

The catch the crew prize above all others

The ornate crayfish, the ornate spiny lobster, is the showpiece of the northern reef: long banded legs, a spotted shell and colours that look almost hand-painted before anyone picks up a brush. They shelter in the reef by day and roam at night, and a good one is as prized in the pot as it is striking to look at. Pure tropical reef royalty.

We hand-paint the ornate's banding and spots because the detail is the whole appeal. A standout design for reef and dive lovers alike, tees, keychains, charms and stickers.

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