Black squat lobster (Galathea squamifera)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Galathea squamifera
- Common name
- Black squat lobster
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Galatheidae
- Genus
- Galathea
- Size
- 3–6 cm
- Depth
- 0–70 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Galathea squamifera reaches 6 cm. Small squat lobster (Galatheidae) Mediterranean and temperate East Atlantic with olive-green to brown body with distinctive scales on carapace (hence squamifera, scaly). Medium claws. Lives from 0 to 70 m under stones and coastal rocky crevices of Mediterranean, North Sea, temperate Atlantic. Less flamboyant cousin of Galathea strigosa (batch 9 electric blue lines). Opportunistic predator. Discreet macro photo subject of shallow Med dives.
Photo of Black squat lobster
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Black squat lobster?
- Black squat lobster (Galathea squamifera) reaches 3–6 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Black squat lobster?
- Black squat lobster is found between 0–70 m deep.
- Is the Black squat lobster dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Black squat lobster?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Black squat lobster?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Galathea
Other species in the family Galatheidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 107154)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5178347)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia