soft locust lobster

Scammarctus batei

Crustaceans
IUCN: Least concern

Usual depth33–339 m
Water temperature21–30 °C
Best monthsJanuary and September
How commonRare

All species

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 17 records
February: 4 records
March: 4 records
April: 0 records
May: 3 records
June: 4 records
July: 4 records
August: 9 records
September: 27 records
October: 7 records
November: 3 records
December: 4 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 33–339 m · Deepest record: 1,000 m

10–20 m: 9 records
20–30 m: 0 records
30–40 m: 20 records
40–50 m: 0 records
50–60 m: 0 records
60–70 m: 3 records
70–80 m: 0 records
80–90 m: 0 records
90–100 m: 0 records
100–110 m: 12 records
110–120 m: 0 records
120+ m: 114 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 21–30 °C

20–22 °C: 1 records
22–24 °C: 2 records
24–26 °C: 21 records
26–28 °C: 27 records
28–30 °C: 130 records

Names and classification

English: soft locust lobster

Other scientific names: Arctus orientalis

Similar species

Deep water bug
Ibacus alticrenatus
Balmain bug
Ibacus peronii
Horseshoe crab
Parribacus antarcticus
striated locust lobster
Eduarctus martensii
Red flapjack
Arctides antipodarum
King's Hawaiian lobster
Arctides regalis

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.
Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
225 open-data records from 1908 to 2012.
Species data updated October 30, 2026.

Log what you see on your next dive

The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.

Join the waitlist