23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Lobster Walk

A Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) grazes on algae under clear midday light on a south Florida reef. Spiny lobsters are best known for the long, single-file “walks” they undertake when leaving crowded shelters and shifting to new feeding areas. Though most movement happens under cover of darkness, individuals sometimes continue the journey through the day, pausing to feed as they go. Stripping algae with its front legs, this traveler turns a large-scale migration into a casual stop for lunch.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, United States of America
Camera: ILCE-6500
Copyright: © Gabriel Jensen