Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Crustacea

Subclass: Malacostraca

Order: Decapoda

Suborder: Pleocyemata

Infraorder: Anomura

Family: Galatheidae

Scientific name: Galathea strigosa

 

Norwegian: krinakrabbe

(Djupfest - Sør-Trøndelag / 15 meters / 9.24.2005)

Distribution: Usually found on rocky substrate on depths from 3 to 600 meters.

Characteristics: Easily recognized by the blue stripes across the body. This is our largest squat lobster, reaching a length of 10 cm or more. It is often seen on night dives when it comes out in the open, looking for food. In daytime it hides in crevices or under rocks.

It is highly edible, but has no commercial significance in Norway.

All pictures: