Norman, 1867
Description:
Body short and robust. Coxal plates densely setose. Epimeral plate 3 posterodistal margin broadly rounded. Head with obliquely truncated lateral lobes, eyes small and rounded. Antennae about one-third of the body length; antenna 1 peduncle articles 1 and 2 about equal in length, article 3 much shorter, flagellum equal to the length of the peduncle, about 8-articulate. Antenna 2 peduncle articles 4 and 5 about equal in length, flagellum about 7-articulate. Gnathopod 1 subchelate, setose, propodus equal in length as the carpus, much broader, palm oblique, spinulose, irregularly sinuous, delimited by a slender spine, dactylus elongate with a small tooth on the inner margin. Female gnathopod 2 carpus short and broad, posterior lobe with long plumose setae, propodus subrectangular, palm oblique, sinuous, spinulose, delimited by a small spine, inner surface of merus, carpus and propodus with plumose setae. Male gnathopod 2 basis with a prominent anterodistal lobe, carpus very short, posterior lobe extremely slender, propodus very large, elongate oval, palm extending along entire posterior margin delimited by a proximal tooth, palmar margin with one slender and one broad distal tooth, dactylus extremely long and robust; in large male propodus and dactylus massive, proximal palmar tooth small. Pereiopods 3 and 4 basis broad; pereiopods 5 to 7 slender, basis expanded. Uropod 3 ramus slightly longer than the peduncle. Telson short, truncated, distal margin weakly concave.
Size:
Up to 3 mm.
Colour:
Blackish, densely mottled.
Habitat:
Depth range from 0 to 70 metres: often on sandy bottoms.
Distribution:
North-East Atlantic; North Sea; Mediterranean; widespread. European coasts from Isefjord to the Adriatic.