Zaddach, 1844
Description:
Body rather laterally flattened ; urosome without dorsal processes, each segment with a pair of dorsal setae. Coxal plate 1 elongate, rounded distally, plates 1 to 5 with sparse marginal setae. Epimeral plates 1 to 3 rounded-quadrate, posterior margin weakly convex, distal margins with plumose setae. Eyes moderately large, rounded-oval. Antenna 1 little longer than antenna 2, about half the body length, flagellum slender, up to about 15-articulate; accessory flagellum small, 1-articulate. Antenna 2 peduncle article 5 a little shorter than article 4, flagellum up to about 10-articulate. Female gnathopod 1 propodus much broader than the carpus, about equal length, palm convex, almost transverse, dactylus slightly longer than the palm. Male gnathopod 1 much more robust than the female one, carpus and propodus large, dactylus robust and irregularly curved. Gnathopod 2 anterior margin of basis with long plumose setae, propodus more than half the length of the carpus, dactylus weakly curved. Pereiopods 5 to 7 with a few spines and many long setae; pereiopod 6 basis posterior margin with short plumose setae; pereiopod 7 basis sparsely setose. Uropods 1 and 2 spinose, outer ramus little shorter than inner one; uropod 3 rami about equal, outer ramus with tuft of setae. Telson short and broad, with prominent distolateral angles.
Size:
Up to about 5 mm.
Colour:
Bright golden yellow, speckled with brown, and brown patches on the coxal plates and the bases of the pereiopods.
Habitat:
Often found in brackish waters, in rivers, creeks and ditches. Locally common.
Distribution:
North-East Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic; north coast of Europe from south Finland to the Mediterranean and Bosphorus.