Kinahan, 1857
Description:
Rostrum unarmed, about twice the length of the eye, triangular with rounded apex. Median line of carapace with anteriorly directed spine in anterior quarter; antennal, pterygostomian and hepatic spines present.
Stylocerite acutely pointed, about 0.4 x length of antennular peduncle. Apical spine of scaphocerite exceeding the lamellar portion. Third maxilliped 1-1.2 x length of scaphocerite; exopod and arthrobranch present.
Mandible with molar process only, teeth sharply pointed.
Pereiopod 1 sub-chelate, stout.
Pereiopod 2 extends to three-quarters of length of propus of pereiopod 1; dactyl of pereiopod 2 about a quarter the length of the propus. Pleonite 6 with a deep longitudinal dorsal groove and two parallel carinae. Endopods of pleopods 2-5 two-segmented, without appendix interna.
Telson with two pairs of small lateral spines.
Remarks
This species closely resembles Crangon crangon, but is slightly slimmer and is easily distinguishable by the groove in pleonite 6.
Size:
Length up to 75 mm, usually less.
Colour:
Normally brownish-grey.
Habitat:
Down to about 20-250 metres, occasionally down to 360 metres. Occurs on muddy or sandy substrates. Hyperbenthic species, may swim up at night, mostly confined to the nepheloid layer. Ovigerous females from December to July, although most have stopped breeding by May.
Distribution in the North Sea:
All North Sea.
World distribution:
Ranges from the White Sea southwards to the Bay of Biscay.