Leach, 1815
Description:
Body more or less semicylindrical in shape, the eyes are lateral and of normal size. Antenna 1 similar in both sexes, reaching the anterior lateral angle of the pereion; peduncle with article 3 a little longer than article 2. Antenna 2 peduncle of 4 distinct articles. Maxillipedes without coupling hooks on the inner border. The dactyls of pereiopods 1 to 3 are not markedly larger than those of pereiopods 4 to 7. Distinct coxal plates on pereion segments 2 to 7. Coxal plates of pereion segment 6 with the posterior angles produced into fairly long processes, and those of segment 7 with rather small processes. Pleon segment 5 not markedly reduced, with the lateral borders contributing to the body outline. Pleopod 1 with both rami thinly criticised and fringed with setae. Pleotelson with posterior border fairly broadly rounded, with two small spines towards each corner and with fairly long plumose setae. Uropods lateral, not arching dorsally and with the pleotelson forming a terminal fan. Uropod peduncle not markedly produced backwards alongside inner border of endopod; articulation between peduncle and endopod short.
Males recognizable at about 4 mm body length, ranging to about 8 mm; females 4-6.5 mm. Colour darker than Eurydice. affinis , with numerous black chromatophores extending laterally and ventrally to the pleon.
Habitat:
Common below HWN-tide in intertidal sand, from which it swims free on the rising tide.
Distribution:
Generally distributed in Britain, falling off in abundance in the southeast. It ranges from Norway and the outer Baltic to the Atlantic coast of Morocco, but evidently not into the Mediterranean.