(Bate, 1857)
Description:
Coxal plate 1 broad distally, plates 2 to 4 elongate; epimeral plate 2 posterodistal angle with a small tooth, plate 3 distal angle forming a huge pointed process. Head short, lateral lobes small and triangular, eyes narrowly rectangular, visual elements imperfectly defined. Antenna 1 peduncle articles 1 and 2 each with the anterodistal angle acutely prolonged, article 1 especially large and robust, flagellum in female short and about 12-articulate, flagellum in male much longer and about 4 times the length of the peduncle, flagellum article 1 very large; accessory flagellum small, 3-articulate. Antenna 2 in female up to half the body length, in male equal to the body length; antenna 1 and 2 in male with calceoli. Gnathopod 1 weakly subchelate, propodus much shorter than the carpus, palm convex, oblique, with the margin finely toothed. Gnathopod 2 minutely subchelate, propodus about half the length of the carpus. Basis of pereiopods 5 to 7 large, posterior margin finely toothed, dactylus slender and pointed. Uropod 2 much shorter than uropods 1 and 3; rami of uropod 3 slender, about equal, sparsely spinulose. Telson cleft to three-quarters length, each lobe with small lateral and apical spines.
Size:
Up to about 14 mm.
Colour:
Whitish, with transverse orange bands.
Habitat:
Depth range from 0 to 900 metres, most often collected above 100 metres and frequently found in shallow water where it buries itself in soft sediments.
Distribution:
North East Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean; European coasts from north Norway to the Bay of Naples. Widespread and frequently recorded.