The common squat lobster is not a lobster at all and is far more closely related to hermit and true crabs. Its appearance is an interesting cross between a crab and lobster with a flattened body and a tail that is tucked underneath itself. The squat lobster has 5 pairs of pereiopods (legs) although only 4 pairs can be seen from the animal’s upper surface. The front pair of pereiopods are very long with a set of large claws. The colour of this primarily filter feeding animal is brown with a green tint, although juveniles are often reddish in appearance. The total body length including the tail is up to 6cm.