(Leach, 1815)
Description:
Carapace suboval, broader than long, dorsal surface smooth to coarsely granular with minute, scattered, transverse carinae; frontal region produced anteriorly, median lobe advanced, submedians broadly rounded; outer ventral margin of orbit with a narrow incision. Antero-lateral margins of carapace with first and sometimes second teeth spatulate or subacute, second smaller than others, fifth acute and prominent. Chelipeds equal in size and stout, propodus longitudinally carinate; pereiopods moderately stout, carpus-dactylus of the second to fourth with longitudinal carinae, propodus with one longitudinal ventral carina extending length of margin (setose on second pereiopod) and a secondary inconspicuous distal carina extending at the most half the length of propodus; dactylus of second to fourth pereiopods styliform, of fifth broadly lanceolate and without a median carina. Male sixth abdominal segment noticeably longer than fifth.
Size:
Carapace length up to 10 (23) mm.
Habitat:
Depth range from intertidally to 100 metres, on sandy to stony bottoms. Ovigerous February-August, larvae January-July.
Colour:
Very variable, carapace yellowish orange with brown banding on pereiopods, to a variegated brown and yellow; sometimes a broad median white or yellow band on carapace with pereiopods similarly banded.
Distribution:
Shetland, Orkney, Firth of Forth, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Wash, Thames, East Channel, Wight, Portland, Channel Isles, Plymouth, Scilly Isles, Bristol Channel, Anglesey, Liverpool Bay, Isle of Man, Dublin, Belfast, Clyde & Argyll, Minch, Mayo, Galway Bay, Fastnet, Cork.