Juvenile Carlifornia spiny lobster or shrimp?

[sfmphotog]

I photographed this little guy over the weekend at La Jolla Shores, at about 60 ft and along the main wall. He was clinging to a kelp 'leaf' attached to a lone stalk. When I first saw it, I thought it was a copepod with large antenna, but after looking at the photo, it distinctly looks like a juvenile California spiny lobster. It appears to have it's tail tucked under in the back and the body shape looks like a lobster, but it's shell is transparent. Can anyone confirm that it is indeed a lobster? What was also curious is the encrustations on the long antenae.

Click on the image to get a larger version:


Thanks!

[Leslie Harris]

It sure is - what a nice find! The stuff clinging to the antennae is just organic fluff that helps break up the animal's outlines & provides camouflage.

[sfmphotog]

Thanks Leslie!

[seekncritters]

WAY COOOOL!!!! Congrats on a great find!!

-Dana

[tswinner]

Wow! That's too cool! great job.

Todd