Rathke, 1843
Description:
Body very robust; pereion segment 7 and pleon segments 1 to 3 each with a pair of strong backwardly directed processes. Coxal plates 1 to 4 acute distally; plates 5 to 7 rounded. Epimeral plate 3 with two large, upturned teeth. Head with a curved rostrum, reaching to the end of peduncle article 1 of antenna 1; eyes very large, oval to kidney-shaped. Antenna 1 peduncle article 1 ventral margin with a large distal tooth, article 2 with a smaller dorsal process, flagellum up to about 25-articulate. anterior margin setose. Antenna 2 about equal in length to antenna 1, flagellum up to about 20-articulate, anterior margin setose. Gnathopod 1 very slender, feeble, basis strongly angular, carpus and propodus subequal in length and extremely slender, propodus minutely chelate with few long plumose setae. Gnathopod 2 also long and slender, but much larger than gnathopod 1, propodus minutely chelate, carpus and propodus quite densely setose. Basis of pereiopod 5 rounded; basis of pereiopod 6 with the posterodistal angle acute: pereiopod 7 also with the posterodistal angle acute, posterior margin serrate. Uropods 1 and 3 with the rami about equal in length; uropod 2 inner ramus longer than the outer one. Telson slightly tapering distally, apex emarginate. with the distolateral angles acute, each with small spines.
Size:
Up to 12 mm.
Colour:
Variable, whitish or yellowish with transverse bands of red or pink.
Habitat:
Depth range from 0 to 200 metres; usually found in shallow water often amongst Laminaria species.
Distribution:
North-East Atlantic. European coast from the Faeroes, Öresund and north Norway to northern France: also recorded from Mediterranean.