Squat lobsters are low-profile crustaceans in more ways than one, Paul Naylor finds
CRITTERCONFIDENTIAL
Just its cup of tea; a Long-clawed Squat Lobster finds an unusual home
Squat lobsters
Spiny Galathea strigosa Black( olive, Leach’ s or common), Galathea squamifera
Red-eyed Galathea intermedia
Long-clawed Munida rugosa
Squat lobsters are low-profile crustaceans in more ways than one, Paul Naylor finds
A
recent shore dive at Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders got me looking closely at crevice critters. There was a swell running that made any extended exploration of the area uncomfortable, but a gulley close to shore provided us with excellent shelter from the surge and rich life among the nooks and crannies along its walls.
16
Most prominent were squat lobsters, low-profile in shape and also in terms of usually receiving less attention than larger reef dwellers. The first thing that struck me was how many there were. Almost all were spiny squat lobsters, instantly recognisable by their smart red carapace with blue markings, and very bright red tips to their claws. Every crevice housed two
The widespread and abundant squat lobster, Galathea squamifera or three of them and, in one little indent in the rocks, there were six along with four leopard-spotted gobies, another species that likes being hidden away and is often seen alongside squat lobsters.
The next thing I noticed was how busy the squat lobsters were, picking up tiny pieces of detritus that had been deposited on the rock with their claws, or using mouthparts that look just like miniature brooms to sweep particles into their mouths. Watched closely, this second method is a particularly intriguing process.
As well as the bright red spiny squat lobsters in the Eyemouth gulley, there were a few small, brownish-green coloured squat lobsters. This is Galathea squamifera, which seems to go by a variety of English names. I have seen them called‘ Olive’ previously but‘ Black’( even though it isn’ t) or‘ Leach’ s’ now seem the most commonly used. Talking of which,‘ common’ might actually be the best name since this species, although less obvious, is extremely abundant on rocky shores and in shallow