Mating behaviour and egg laying in captive rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palinuridae)

Mating and egg laying behaviour of specimens of rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii (Hutton), were observed in aquaria. Mating occurred within 6 weeks of a female moult and egg laying took place within a few hours of mating. The pattern of precopulatory behaviour, mating, and egg laying has many similar features to that reported for Panulirus homarus. Accounts of mating and egg laying in J. lalandii are conflicting, some showing similarities with J. edwardsii and others, major differences.