Northwest Dive Club

Hello Fellow Divers!!!

Happy Tuesday!
I just wanted to start a post about squat lobsters!
Ever since I saw them at Sund Rockwith YellowEye I can't stop thinking about them!
They just make me super happy! I think they are the cutest creatures I've seen underwater!

I was just lucky enough to see a pair at cove 2 with Greatful Diver on Sunday during my deep dive class! Has anyone seen them at other locations?

Also are they really part lobster?

I wish I was diving today!
ScubaJess

You should see them when they grow up!

Do they get very big? The biggest ones I saw were about 3 inches long

ScubaJess wrote:Do they get very big? The biggest ones I saw were about 3 inches long

They get to be about 24 to 30 inches long when they are all grown up. They are a deep water species at that stage of their life so you're unlikely to ever see one that big

Very unlikely!

If you have Greg Jensen's new book (Crabs and Shrimps of the Pacific Coast), Squat Lobsters can be found on page 181

If you have Greg Jensen's older book (Pacific Coast Crabs and Shrimps), they can be found on page 73

If you have neither (why not?) try this site: http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/dep ... spina.html

Anomurishly yours,

Alex

Cat's out of the bag and there will be no squat lobsters for dinner.

Thanks for the link!!!
The squat lobsters I saw were much cuter and happier looking than that guy!!

I don't have either of those books, but I will add them to my list of cool stuff to buy! Thanks for the info!!!

CaptnJack wrote:

ScubaJess wrote:Do they get very big? The biggest ones I saw were about 3 inches long

They get to be about 24 to 30 inches long when they are all grown up. They are a deep water species at that stage of their life so you're unlikely to ever see one that big

Um, no. Max size is a body length of about 3", roughly double that if you include the claws.

Greg Jensen wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:

ScubaJess wrote:Do they get very big? The biggest ones I saw were about 3 inches long

They get to be about 24 to 30 inches long when they are all grown up. They are a deep water species at that stage of their life so you're unlikely to ever see one that big

Um, no. Max size is a body length of about 3", roughly double that if you include the claws.

Damn I knew someone would spoil it for Jess eventually

perpetually happy looking little things ...



... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Possession Point Fingers (South end of Whidbey Island)is the place I see Squat Lobsters pretty much on every dive.

Here is one picture that shows one more mature and larger individual. looking exactly like in Greg Jensen new book on page 181
Please note the more brown coloration of this one while all the smaller individuals are red.
Please look at the head of Penpoint Gunnel to the right for the size reference.

Make sure you click on each picture once to enlarge and second time for max resolution. Here are couple of more individuals, smaller & more red with Black Eye Goby as a reference to the size.
Please note that unless you see the head well or main body shape, Squat Lobster front claws & arms may look very similar to Scaly (or Scaled) Lithode (or Lithodid) Crab. Scaly Crab is much bigger though. Here is also the picture of what I believe is a Sharp Nose Decorator Crab (head is under camouflage) that might also look similar to Squat Lobster from this angle. Please note this individual is also more brown and found in Keystone Jetty.
All other pictures are from Possession Point Fingers.

Looks like a really big male Oregonia gracilis- legs are too long and spindly for a sharpnose crab (Scyra)

Greg Jensen wrote: by Greg Jensen » Fri Dec 05, 2014 6:12 pm

Looks like a really big male Oregonia gracilis- legs are too long and spindly for a sharpnose crab (Scyra)

Thank you Greg for the clarification on this last one !