Squat Lobster

ocean · crustaceans · deep sea · unusual creatures

Flat and curly. Squat lobsters are squeezed flat from top to bottom and tuck their long tails underneath their bodies like a cozy blanket. This weird shape helps them squeeze into tight spaces on the ocean floor.

Found everywhere. You can find more than 900 species of squat lobsters living in oceans all around the world. They show up in shallow water near the surface, in the pitch-black deep sea, and even near scorching hot hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.

Mountain climbers too. Some squat lobsters don't even live in the ocean. A few special species live in caves and mountains up to 3,600 meters above sea level, making them some of the highest-living ocean creatures on Earth.

Giant group hangouts. Many squat lobster species love hanging out together in massive crowds, either sitting on the sea floor or floating around in groups in the water. Imagine thousands of them all in one spot.

Caught for food. A small number of squat lobster species are fished by people and sold as food in some parts of the world, though they are not as popular as their bigger cousins, true lobsters.