(Pennant, 1777)
Description:
Carapace much longer than broad, anteriorly granular, posteriorly striate; frontal region produced and with a median longitudinal furrow; rostrum small, bidentate. Antennal flagellum longer than carapace width and usually longer than carapace length. Antero-lateral margins of carapace with three teeth, postero-lateral margins sometimes with a small tooth. Pereiopods depressed, anteriorly setose, dactyli long and thin. Female chelipeds about as long as carapace length, propodus broad, somewhat flattened; abdominal segments free. Male antennal flagella longer than in female; chelipeds much longer than carapace length, propodus long and subcylindrical; abdominal segments 3-5 fused.
Size:
Carapace length up to 23 (39) mm.
Habitat:
Depth range from lower shore in sand to about 55 metres. Washed ashore in large numbers after storms. Ovigerous March-September, larvae January-July.
Colour:
Carapace pale mauve or reddish brown, epibranchial regions often grey. Chelipeds pale mauve, pereiopods yellowish-white, tips of dactyli brown.
Distribution:
Aberdeen, Firth of Forth, Northumberland, Dogger, Yorkshire, Wash, Thames, East Channel, Wight, Portland, Channel Isles, Plymouth, Scilly Isles, Bristol Channel, Anglesey, Liverpool Bay, Isles of Man, Dublin, Belfast, Clyde & Argyll, Minch, Mayo, Galway Bay, Fastnet, Cork, Fisher.