First record of the reef lobster Enoplometopus occidentalis (Randall, 1840) from Indian waters

specimen of the reef lobster, Enoplometopus occidentalis measuring carapace length 57.0 mm, total length 127.0 mm and 46.7 g in weight was landed at Mandapam fish landing centre, on the southeast coast of India. The lobster was caught during the deep sea trawl fishing operations off Mandapam (08° 58' N lat. 79° 16' E long.). This is the first record of the species from Indian waters. The morphological characters along with colour pattern are described. The large chelae in the specimen were found missing.