Iphimedia spatula

Myers and McGrath, 1987

Description:
Body very robust; pereion segment 7 and pleon segments 1 to 3 each produced dorsally into a pair of strong backwardly directed processes, on pleon segment 3 the processes distinctly hooked; pleon segments 1 to 3 also with a dorsal keel. Coxal plates 1 and 3 acute distally; plate 2 rectangular; plate 4 with a posterior process, especially elongate; plates 5 to 7, posterior margin angular. Epimeral plates 2 and 3, mid-posterior margin angular; plate 3 with two large upturned teeth. Head with a strong, but weakly curved rostrum, not reaching to the end of peduncle article 1 of antenna 1, lateral lobes acute, deflexed; eyes moderately large, oval to kidney-shaped. Antenna 1 peduncle article 1 with a dorsal and ventral distal tooth, article 2 with a single dorsal tooth, flagellum up to about 15-articulate, anterior margin setose. Antenna 2 only slightly longer than antenna 1, flagellum up to about 15-articulate, anterior margin setose. Gnathopod 1 very slender, feeble, basis weakly angular, carpus and propodus subequal in length and extremely slender, propodus minutely chelate with few long plumose setae. Gnathopod 2 also elongate and slender, but much larger than gnathopod 1, merus with a small marginal process, propodus minutely chelate with several long setae. Basis of pereiopod 5 with the posterior margin acutely prolonged; basis of pereiopod 6 with two angular processes; basis of pereiopod 7 with two distinct angular processes and an obtuse distal lobe. Uropods 2 and 3 inner ramus little longer than outer ones. Telson elongate, tapering distally, with few small dorsal spines, apex emarginate, each lobe rounded.

Size:
Up to about 9 mm.

Colour:
Unknown, due to confusion with Iphimedia eblanae .

Habitat:
Unknown, due to confusion with Iphimedia eblanae .

Distribution:
Shetlands, Atlantic coast of France; often confused with Iphimedia eblanae (see Myers et al, 1987).

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