Description: This squat lobster has a highly variable colouration and can be red, yellow or orange, and can either be a uniform colour or have patches of white. It reaches a size of 35 mm. The carapace has multiple ridges fringed with dense hairs, which are prominent as in G. dispersa the hairs are much longer than any other Galathea species. The rostrum is triangular, with four pairs of spines, and is also covered in hairs. There are three spines at the base of each antenna. The pincers have some spines and fine bristles, but these never approach the dense coverage of those of Galathea nexa that would give a ‘furry’ appearance.

Habitat: Sand, muddy sand, gravel, maerl beds, stones and rocks from 5 m – 365 m, but most abundant between 45 m – 90 m.

Distribution: Records from all coasts of Britain (although rare on south-east), very few records from Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Galathea nexa although the long, dense hairs fringing some of the ridges on the carapace in G. dispersa are a diagnostic feature. In G. nexa the pincers have a ‘furry’ appearance due to dense coverage of spines and bristles, while G. dispera only has some spines and fine bristles and lacks this ‘furry’ appearance.

Key Identification Features:

• Colouration highly variable; yellow, red or orange. Can be uniform or have blotches of white.
• Some ridges on the carapace fringed with dense hairs, which are much longer in this species than any other, making them much more obvious.
• Triangular rostrum with four pairs of spines, and some hairs.
• Pincers with some spines and fine hairs, but they do not have a ‘furry’ appearance.

Distribution Map from NBN: Galathea dispersa at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Galathea dispersa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Galathea dispersa

WoRMS: Galathea dispersa at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Galathea dispersa Spence Bate, 1858. AphiaID: 107148.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Anomura; Galatheoidea; Galatheidae; Galathea