Californian beach covered in tiny red squat lobsters

A Californian beach was covered in a stinking red tide of crustaceans this week when thousands of tiny "squat lobsters" washed ashore.

Orange County's Newport Beach was littered with the red yabby-like creatures in an unusual event that reoccurs roughly every six years, KTLA reports.

According to marine researcher Julianne E Steers of the Ocean Institute in Dana Point the semi-regular beaching is often spurred by an increase in water temperatures or during an El Nino event.

"We did have some astronomically warm temperatures for an extended period of time which you don't normally see," Ms Steers said, suggesting the crustacean swarm were likely looking for food.

While they look like crabs, Ms Steers said the critters are "in a line of their own".

All the squat lobsters died shortly after washing ashore and despite the awful stench they created, many curious locals came to take a look at the uncommon sight.