Olivar’s Squat Lobster

(Munida olivarae)

Olivar’s Squat Lobster (Munida olivarae)

Images taken at Romblon, Philippines and Ambon, Indonesia

1. Carapace Structure

• Elongated carapace with a slightly convex dorsal surface.

• Covered with distinct transverse ridges and small spines.

• Presence and arrangement of epigastric and branchial spines are important diagnostic characters.

2. Rostrum (Front Spine)

• A long, narrow rostrum projecting forward from the carapace.

• Typically flanked by supraorbital spines.

• The length relative to the carapace and eye stalks helps differentiate species.

3. Chelipeds (Clawed Legs)

• Very elongated first pair of legs (chelipeds), often several times the body length.

• Slender claws with fine spines and setae.

• Relative proportions of the merus, carpus, and propodus segments are diagnostic.

4. Walking Legs (Pereiopods 2–4)

• Long and thin with spines along the margins.

• Terminal segments often curved with a sharp dactylus.

5. Abdominal Segments

• Smooth to lightly ridged tergites.

• Segmental spine patterns are used for species identification.

6. Coloration (when alive)

• Often reddish to orange with pale banding typical of many Munida.

• Colour pattern can support identification but is less reliable than morphology.

7. Size

• Generally small (a few centimetres carapace length), consistent with many squat lobsters.