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Squat lobster

  • Chirostylidae
Chirostylus Ortmann, 1892
Eumunida Smith, 1883
Gastroptychus Caurelly, 1896
Pseudomunida
Uroptychus Baba, 1988.
  • Galatheidae
Agononida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1995
Allogalathea Baba, 1969
Allomunida
Anoplonida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1995
Bathymunida
Cervimunida Benedict, 1902
Coralliogalathea
Fennerogalathea Baba, 1988
Galathea Fabricius, 1793
Lauriea
Liogalathea
Janetogalathea
Munida Leach, 1820
Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1874
Nanagalathea
Raymunida
Fennerogalathea
Paramunida Baba, 1988
Phylladriorhynchus
Pleuroncodes
Sadayoshia Baba, 1969
Shinkaia

Squat lobsters are decapod crustaceans of the families Galatheidae and Chirostylidae, including the common genera Galathea and Munida. They are not lobsters at all, although they share a number of characteristics; they are, in fact, more closely related to porcelain crabs, hermit crabs and then, more distantly, true crabs. 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).

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.

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