Squat Lobsters of the Munidae Family

FROM THE PACIFIC (2):

Squat Lobsters of the Munidae Family are crustaceans in the Phylum Arthropoda and the Class Malacostraca. This Class is defined by having 5 head segments, 8 thoracic segments, and 6 abdominal segments. The head and thorax are usually combined as a cephalothorax. The head includes a pair of antennae, a pair of antennules, and the mouth. These animals have a two chambered stomach. Squat Lobsters, like crabs, shrimp, and crayfish, are decapods, meaning they have five pairs of appendages that function as legs (pereiopods), three pairs that function as mouth parts (millipedes), and one pair that is modified into enlarged pincers (chalae). They also have three pairs of appendages that function as mouth parts (maxillipeds). Decapods, other than crabs, usually have six pairs of biramous (dividing to form two branches) appendages along their abdomen. The first five pairs function as swimmerets (pleopods). The last pair is flattened to form a tail fan.

Squat Lobsters are in the Super Family Galatheoidea and resemble lobsters in shape. They are more dorso-ventrally flattened than lobsters, and they hold their long tail curled up under their thorax, which gives them a squatting or crouching appearance. They have a thick carapace and may or may not have a rostrum. They are found in a variety of habitats, from deep sea thermal vents to high altitude terrestrial caves. Marine species may be benthic or pelagic.

Squat Lobsters are found only in marine environments. They are characterized by having short spines along the front edge of their carapace, two additional, longer spines over the eyes, and a central rostrum. Most species are reddish to brown in color. They reach a body length of approximately 10 cm (3.9 inches).

Squat Lobsters are found from the sea surface to depths up to 1,500 m (4,920 feet). They are suspension feeders and are algae grazers, detritivores, algae grazers, predators or scavengers. In turn they are preyed upon by a variety of predators including: fish, crustaceans, octopus, pinnipeds, octopus, sea birds, sea turtles, squid, and whales. They are found worldwide, in tropical and temperate seas.

The Munididae Family has more than two hundred forty species of which twelve are found along Mexico’s Pacific Coast.