Description: This squat lobster can reach up to 6 cm in length. Colour varies from green to dark brown. Juveniles may be much brighter with more of a red colouration. Claws bear several spines along their inner edges and are covered in scale-like tubercles. They have a triangular rostrum with four spines on either side. Carapace has a shiny appearance between the grooves and is covered in small hairs.

Habitat: Found on the lower shore under boulders and cobbles, and in the sublittoral, usually in crevices and under boulders and cobbles down to 150 m.

Distribution: Found all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland, but few records from south-east coast of Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with other Galathea species. Green-brown colouration and spines on inner edge of claws help to distinguish it from other species.

Key Identification Features:

• Green-brown colouration.
• Claws bear several spines along inner edge, and are covered in tubercles.
• Shiny appearance to groove in carapace.
• Small hairs on carapace.

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

iNaturalist: Galathea squamifera at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Galathea squamifera

WoRMS: Galathea squamifera at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Galathea squamifera Leach, 1814. AphiaID: 107154.

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