Galathea strigosa

(Linnaeus, 1761)

Vernacular names
English : Spinous squat lobster
French : Galathée multicolore

Classification
Class : Malacostraca
Order : Decapoda
Family : Galatheidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Total length, from claws to abdomen is 17 cm. Very hairy body, making the species easily recognizable. Flat body, bright red to orange-red coloration with transversal bright blue bands on each body segment’s edges.

Range and habitat
North-east Atlantic, from Norway to Canary Islands and Mediterranean sea. Found almost exclusively on rocky bottoms, usually near caves or crevices, at depth down to 60 meters but sometimes all the way to 400 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species hasn’t been assessed so far and is known to be locally very numerous and overall fairly common in the wild.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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