ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

California spiny lobster

Hi kiddo! Have you ever heard of a lobster before? Well, there is a special kind of lobster that lives in California and it's called the California spiny lobster!

So, let's start with what it looks like. The California spiny lobster has a hard shell that covers its body, but instead of having big claws like other lobsters, it has two long antennae that it uses to sense its environment. It also has lots of little legs and a long tail.

Now, let's talk about where it lives. The California spiny lobster lives in the Pacific Ocean, along the coast of California, from Baja California all the way up to Monterey Bay. It likes to hang out in rocky areas or under big boulders in the water.

The California spiny lobster is a special kind of lobster because it doesn't have any claws, so it has to use other strategies to protect itself. One way it does this is by hiding under rocks or boulders during the day, and then coming out at night to search for food.

Speaking of food, the California spiny lobster likes to eat lots of things, including clams, mussels, crabs, and other small fish.

But, even though people might think it looks delicious (because a lot of people do like to eat lobster), it's important to only catch them during the approved season in order to protect the population.

In California, the spiny lobster season is usually from October to March, and people have to get a special permit in order to catch them. This helps to make sure that the population of California spiny lobsters stays healthy and doesn't get too low.

So, there you have it - the California spiny lobster is a special kind of lobster that lives along the coast of California, doesn't have any claws, and has to be protected during only certain times of the year!