Squat lobsters are decapod crustaceans of the families Galatheidae and Chirostylidae, including the common genera Galathea and Munida. They are not lobsters at all, but are more closely related to porcelain crabs, hermit crabs and then, more distantly, true crabs.
They are also much smaller than lobsters that can be legally harvested. For example, Munida rugosa has a maximum body length of 10 cm with abdomen extended [1], and the striated squat lobster Galathea australiensis has a carapace that reaches 15 cm in length [2].
Flesh from these animals is often commercially sold in restaurants as "langostino lobster," or sometimes called merely "lobster" when incorporated in seafood dishes, which highly upsets the Maine lobster industry [3].
The body of a squat lobster is usually flattened, the abdomen is typically folded under itself, and the first pereiopods (front legs) are greatly elongated and armed with long chelae (claws). The fifth pair of pereiopods is usually hidden within the gill chamber, under the carapace, giving squat lobsters the appearance of having only eight pereiopods.
It was long assumed that squat lobsters hide in crevices and catch prey with their long claws. However, recent observations showed the animals to wait on the tops of Lophelia coral reefs and catch fish swimming past.
Families and genera
- Chirostylidae Ortmann, 1892
- Galatheidae Samouelle, 1819
- Agononida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1995
- Allogalathea Baba, 1969
- Allomunida
- Anoplonida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1995
- Bathymunida
- Cervimunida Benedict, 1902
- Coralliogalathea
- Fennerogalathea Baba, 1988
- Galacantha
- Galathea Fabricius, 1793
- Lauriea
- Leiogalathea
- Janetogalathea
- Munida Leach, 1820
- Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1874
- Nanagalathea
- Paramunida Baba, 1988
- Phylladriorhynchus
- Pleuroncodes
- Raymunida
- Sadayoshia Baba, 1969
- Shinkaia
- Tasmanida Ahyong, 2007
See also
References
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