Spider Squat Lobster

Spider Squat Lobsters (Chirostylus sandyi) are also classified as Anomura crabs, or “false crabs,” due to their long bodies and underdeveloped rear legs that are difficult to detect at first glance. They are common in the West Pacific, but were not discovered until 2009. We encountered this Spider Squat Lobster during a night dive at the WellBeach Dive Resort house reef in Zamboanguita, Philippines. Read more in our post, Pristine Reefs and Macro Critters: Scuba Diving Apo Island, Dauin, and Zamboanguita, Philippines.