Spiny lobsters, also known as
langouste or
rock lobsters, are a family (
Palinuridae) of about 60 species of
achelate crustaceans, in the
Decapoda Reptantia. Spiny lobsters are also, especially in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Bahamas, sometimes called
crayfish,
sea crayfish, or
crawfish ("kreef" in South Africa), terms which elsewhere are reserved for
freshwater crayfish.