Metopa alderi

(Bate, 1857)

Description:
Body laterally flattened ; coxal plate 4 distal margin convex; epimeral plate 3 with the posterodistal angle quadrate. Head with broadly truncated lateral lobes; eyes moderately large, rounded-oval. Antenna 1 much shorter than antenna 2, in female reaching to the end of the peduncle article 5 of antenna 2, in male reaching only to about the mid-point of peduncle article 5; antenna 1 peduncle article 1 longer than article 2, article 3 very small, flagellum slender, little longer than the peduncle in female and about equal to length of the peduncle in male. Antenna 2 robust, especially elongate in male, peduncle articles 4 and 5 about equal, flagellum about equal to the length of the peduncle article 5 in female, much shorter in male. Gnathopod 1 small, feebly, subchelate, propodus oval, palm not delimited. Gnathopod 2 large and robust, especially in male, merus produced on the inner surface as a thin lamella, overlapping the dorsal margin of the carpus, propodus broad and robust, in female, the palm delimited proximally by a small or moderately large triangular tooth and a small sinus, in male the palmar margin is delimited proximally by a very large process with a deep broad sinus; palmar process especially well developed in large specimens. Pereiopods 5 to 7 merus moderately broad with the distal angle produced; pereiopods 6 and 7 basis expanded. Uropod 3 peduncle with about 5 short marginal spines, article 1 and 2 of the ramus about equal in length. Telson oval, devoid of spines, apex rounded.

Size:
Up to about 7 mm.

Colour:
Whitish, with red patches, occasionally with transverse bands.

Habitat:
Depth range from 20 to 750 metres.

Distribution:
Arctic Ocean, North Atlantic, Greenland, Iceland, south and west Norway, North Sea.

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