also: いせエビ · イセエビ
Japanese spiny lobster
Refers specifically to Panulirus japonicus, a prized lobster in Japanese cuisine. Often used in sushi and sashimi.
Japanese spiny lobster is often served at celebratory occasions.
Japanese spiny lobsters are caught in the sea around here.
海老 is the broad general term for shrimp/prawns/lobsters, while 伊勢海老 names one specific prized species, the spiny lobster.
Standard kanji spelling; the characters 海老 are a common jukujikun for えび.
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling, often seen in menus and casual contexts.
Mixed kanji-hiragana spelling, less common but still used.
Uses the standard kanji 蝦 for えび; less common than 海老.
Irregular kanji usage; 竜 means 'dragon' and is not standard for this word.
Katakana spelling, common in biological contexts and when emphasizing the species name.
伊勢 (Ise, a region known for this lobster) + 海老 (ebi, 'shrimp/lobster'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name likely originated from the association with Ise Bay.