Galatheoidea
Guides
Munididae
Munidid Squat Lobsters
Munididae is a family of squat lobsters (Decapoda: Anomura) taxonomically separated from Galatheidae in 2010. Members are predominantly deep-water taxa distinguished by a trispinose frontal edge to the carapace, a central rostrum, and two spines extending forward from above the eyes. The family exhibits substantial cryptic diversity, with species often distinguishable only by subtle morphological differences in telson shape and pereopod dactyli. Reproductive strategies vary, with Munididae typically producing numerous small eggs compared to related families.