Ampelisca tenuicornis

Liljeborg, 1855

Description:
Urosome segment 1 with a very small, flattened, dorsal keel. Epimeral plate 3 distal angle quadrate or with a minute tooth. Head with anterodistal margin broadly rounded, ventral margin sinuous. Antenna 1 very short, in female not quite reaching end of peduncle of antenna 2, peduncle articles 1 and 2 about equal length, about 11-articulate; in male little longer than peduncle of antenna 2. female antenna 2 almost as long as body, in male little longer than body, peduncle articles 4 and 5 about equal. Pereiopod 3 merus without distal lobe; pereiopods 3 and 4 dactylus almost straight and longer than carpus and propodus combined. Pereiopod 7 basis equal to length of rest of appendage, merus shorter than ischium, propodus oval. Uropods 1 and 2 with small marginal spines. Telson elongate, deeply cleft, without dorsal setae and with only 2 to 4 small apical setules.

Size:
Up to 8 mm.

Colour:
Whitish, with red markings and a few yellow speckles.

Habitat:
Depth range from 0 to 500 metres, locally abundant, often on fine sand or muddy sediments.

Distribution:
North East Atlantic, north and west Norway; Ă–resund, North Sea; Atlantic coast of Europe and North Africa to Senegal; western Mediterranean to Adriatic.

Remark:
This species was synonymized with Ampelisca diadema by Enequist (1949) working in the North Sea area.

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