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Rigid blind lobster

Pentacheles validus

  • Crustaceans
  • IUCN: Least concern
  • Usual depth1,233–2,750 m
  • Water temperature10–29 °C
  • Best monthsMay, June, and December
  • How commonRare
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About this species

Pentacheles validus is a species of decapod in the family Polychelidae. They can grow up to 77 millimetres (3.0 in). They rely on drag powered swimming to mobilize through the ocean.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Pentacheles validus”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 4 records
  • February: 8 records
  • March: 4 records
  • April: 15 records
  • May: 20 records
  • June: 25 records
  • July: 1 records
  • August: 6 records
  • September: 2 records
  • October: 6 records
  • November: 10 records
  • December: 17 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 1,233–2,750 m · Deepest record: 3,002 m

  • 590–600 m: 89 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 10–29 °C

  • 10–12 °C: 4 records
  • 12–14 °C: 2 records
  • 14–16 °C: 8 records
  • 16–18 °C: 22 records
  • 18–20 °C: 27 records
  • 20–22 °C: 8 records
  • 22–24 °C: 9 records
  • 24–26 °C: 25 records
  • 26–28 °C: 32 records
  • 28–30 °C: 3 records

Names and classification

English
Rigid blind lobster, rigid blind lobster
Names in 1 more languages
French
polychèle rigide

Other scientific names: Pentacheles debilis, Polycheles chilensis, Polycheles demani, Polycheles validus

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 202 open-data records from 1883 to 2024.
  • Species data updated November 5, 2026.

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