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WAIE (whatamieating.com)


This is the searchable online international food dictionary with 67,413 terms in 307 languages plus 42,027 plurals.

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The database behind this site was the loving creation of Suzy Oakes, who has since passed away. She is greatly missed. You can see her obituary in the Guardian

A cookbook, featuring Suzy's favourite recipies, is available. People who are interested should contact Mun Flint. Currently, the cost is £12.50 plus postage and packing. All proceeds go to the Suzy Oakes Trust for Mill Road.

Picture of cover of recipe book


slipper lobster

Plural: slipper lobsters

Language: English

Description: A name for the Balmain bug, a type of sand lobster found around the southern coasts of Australia and in some parts of the north west but mainly off the eastern seaboard. Sand lobsters are any of a variety of small crustaceans bearing a resemblance to lobsters and which bury themselves in sand or mud during the day. There are many of them, including bay bug, bay lobster, shovel-nosed lobster and rudder-nosed lobster which is similar to a slipper lobster. Moreton Bay bugs and Balmain bugs are available commercially. Moreton Bay bugs are slightly more triangular than the Balmain bug, which also have their eyes placed very centrally, while those of the Moreton Bay bug are placed right out on the margin of the carapace. They are available at around 25 cm (10") in length. Balmain bugs are said to be sligthly inferior in flavour to Moreton Bay bugs, which are also a little larger in size.


slipper lobster
Balmain bugs with many thanks to the very helpful Ian Stewart at Musumeci in Sydney Fish Market

Latin: Ibacus peronii
Ethnicity: Australian
Most frequent country: Australia
Better known as: Balmain bug
Also known as: bug, flapjack, flying saucer, shovelnose lobster, southern bay lobster, squagga

See foods and dishes: bay bug, bay lobster, flat lobster, Moreton Bay bug, rudder nosed lobster, sand lobster

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