Description: This squat lobster can reach up to 10 cm in length. Strikingly coloured, their carapace and body is a brilliant red with electric blue stripes. They have long front claws covered in bristles or spines giving them their common name - spiny squat lobster. These can often have an almost ‘furry’ appearance. Their legs are also covered in bristles. The rostrum has a long central spine with three spines either side.

Habitat: Prefers gravelly or rocky substrata. Usually hiding in a rock crevice or fissure. Found from shallow sublittoral to 600 m depth.

Distribution: Widespread around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with other squat lobsters, bright red-orange colouration with electric blue stripes is diagnostic.

Key Identification Features:

• Brilliant red-orange with electric blue stripes.
• Claws and legs covered in bristles.
• Rostrum has long central spine, with three spines on each side.

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

iNaturalist: Galathea strigosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Galathea strigosa at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Galathea strigosa (Linnaeus, 1761). AphiaID: 107155.

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