Habitat 
Depth 
Group 
Role 
Average sizeWHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Blue highlights the grooves of the shell and abdomen of the spinous squat lobster (Galathea strigosa) against orange-red colouring. The abdomen, the jointed rear section, is flattened and folded under the body.
The long first pair of legs carries strong claws far ahead of the other legs. Numerous setae, small hairs, emphasise this squat lobster’s hairy appearance.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
It lives on rocky seabeds, in cracks, crevices, caves and coralligenous areas. It occurs from coastal waters down to considerable depths, taking refuge during the day before becoming active at nightfall.
WHAT DOES IT EAT?
A piece of animal remains can hold a spiny squat lobster’s attention for a long time: one claw holds the piece while the other removes food, which is then brought to the mouth. Its meals extend beyond these conspicuous items. It also gathers fine organic material from the seabed with collecting appendages and can collect particles from water flowing near its mouthparts. Taking both fine material and larger pieces gives it a flexible diet based on the food it encounters.
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