Leach, 1814
Description
Rostrum straight or slightly upturned at apex; almost as long as carapace and about 1.5 x length of antennular peduncle, slightly less in males; single dorsal tooth at base.
Carapace with one supra-orbital spine, and antennal and hepatic spines. Tufts of setae occasionally present on dorsal carapace and pleonites.
Stylocerite acutely pointed, little over half the length of antennular peduncle.
Scaphocerite three times longer than broad, apical spine not exceeding lamellar portion. Third maxilliped half the length of scaphocerite or slightly more; exopod present.
Mandible with molar and incisor process, but without palp. Carpus of pereiopod 2 three-segmented, proximal segment equal to combined length of distal pair.
Telson with two pairs of lateral spines.
Remarks
Tufts of setae sometimes occur on the carapace and pleonites.
Size
Length up to 32 mm, normally less.
Colour
Variable. May be red, brown, green, flecked reddish-brown or almost transparent with red and yellow blotches.
Ecology
Hyperbenthic species, may swim up at night, mostly confined to the nepheloid layer; adults may get caught with pelagic sampling. Frequent amongst algae in pools and gullies on the lower shore. Also occurs in Zostera beds.
Depth range
Down to about 50 m.
Distribution in the North Sea
All North Sea.
World distribution
Ranges from the W Norway and the Faeroes southwards into the Mediterranean.
[mainly after Smaldon, 1993]