About Galathea squamifera Leach, 1814
Description: Adult Galathea squamifera reach up to 65 millimetres (2.6 inches) in total length, with a carapace measuring up to 32 millimetres (1.3 inches) long. Their body is chestnut brown with a green tinge, and the spines that project from the carapace have red tips. The rostrum is triangular, with four spines on each side. The first pair of pereiopods are one and a half times as long as the body, and bear well-developed claws. Distribution and ecology: Galathea squamifera occurs from Norway to the Azores, and is also found in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the most frequently encountered species of squat lobster on the coasts of Northern Europe. This species lives between the low tide mark and a depth of approximately 70 metres (230 feet), where it inhabits areas under stones and within rock cracks. G. squamifera is mainly nocturnal, and uses its claws to catch passing prey such as small fish. Known predators of G. squamifera include the fish species Scorpaena porcus and Serranus atricauda.
