Invertebrates
Squat Lobster
Galatheoidea · also called squat lobsters
Wearing a flattened body and long claws that make it look every bit like a true lobster, a squat lobster is actually a closer relative of the hermit crab, found everywhere from sunlit coral reefs to the scalding chemistry of deep hydrothermal vents.
Overview
The squat lobster, superfamily Galatheoidea, is a flattened, long-clawed crustacean native to ocean habitat spanning shallow reefs to deep hydrothermal vents across every major ocean basin in the world. Its misleading lobster-like appearance, closer true kinship with hermit crabs, and enormous species diversity make it one of the most widespread and adaptable crustacean groups found anywhere in the ocean.
A lobster in name only
Despite the name and the unmistakably lobster-like claws, genetics tell a different story, placing the squat lobster firmly closer to hermit crabs on the crustacean family tree, a reminder that appearance alone can be a poor guide to true relationships.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across its broad range of ocean habitat worldwide.
Squat Lobster: common questions
Is the squat lobster really a lobster?
Not closely, this superfamily is more closely related to hermit crabs and porcelain crabs than to true lobsters, despite its common name and lobster-like appearance with long, prominent claws.
Where can squat lobsters be found?
This superfamily spans an unusually wide range of habitat, with species found from shallow coral reefs down to deep-sea hydrothermal vents, a broader depth range than many other crustacean groups cover.
Do squat lobsters ever gather in large groups?
Yes, certain species within this superfamily can gather in extremely dense aggregations on the seafloor, sometimes covering large areas in what looks like a living carpet of individuals.
How many species of squat lobster are there?
This superfamily includes several hundred recognised species, making it one of the more diverse groups of crustaceans found across a wide range of ocean habitats worldwide.