Metzger, 1871
Description:
Pleon segments 1 to 3 smooth or with a small notch or tooth on the posterior margin. Coxal plates 1 to 4 rectangular, plate 1 weakly tapering distally, distal margin sparsely setose. Epimeral plates 1 to 3 distal angle with a small tooth, posterior margin convex. Head with a small acute rostrum, lateral lobes sinuous; eyes moderately large in female, very large in male. Female antenna 1 almost one-third of the body length, flagellum about 12-articulate. Female antenna 2 little longer than antenna 1, peduncle article 5 longer than article 4, flagellum about 8-articulate. Antenna 1 in male much longer than in female; antenna 2 also elongate, confronted margins of peduncle with many tufts of fine short setules. Gnathopod 1 basis robust, setose, and with groups of short spines on the posterior margin, propodus much longer than the carpus, elongate-oval, palm strongly oblique, straight, delimited by one or two stout spines; merus, carpus and propodus robustly setose. Gnathopod 2 longer and more slender than gnathopod 1, basis robust, densely setose and with groups of strong spines on the posterior margin, propodus narrowly oval, palm strongly oblique, straight, delimited by one or two stout spines; merus, carpus and propodus setose, but less dense than in gnathopod 1. Pereiopod 3 extremely large and robust, very much larger than pereiopod 4, merus long and robust, carpus extremely short with one to three large distal spines, propodus strong and slightly curved with a proximal group of two to six large truncated spines, dactylus enormous, falciform, closing against a group of propodal spines. Pereiopod 4 small and of normal shape. Pereiopods 3 and 4 in male with long plumose setae. Pereiopods 5 to 7 basis expanded with the distal angle produced, rounded; pereiopod 7 basis with the posterior margin toothed. Coxal gills not pleated. Uropod 3 rami three times the length of the peduncle, spinose; in female with few short setae, in male the margins densely setose. Telson elongate, truncated, cleft to three-quarters of the length, each lobe with one or two slender apical spines and four to six dorsolateral setules.
Size:
Up to about 7 mm.
Colour:
Pale whitish, with brown patches.
Habitat:
Depth range from 10 to 50 metres, usually on fine sand or other soft sediments.
Distribution:
North-East Atlantic; Arctic Ocean; North Sea. European coasts from northern Norway to the west coast of Ireland.