Proboloides calcarata

(Sars, 1882)

Description:
Head scarcely twice as long as the first segment of the pereion, lateral corners in female distinctly angular, in male more rounded. Second pair of coxal plates obliquely curved in front, outer part somewhat narrowed, especially in the male; coxal plate 3 gradually widening below, and nearly twice as deep as the corresponding segment; coxal plate 4 scarcely as large as the two preceding pairs together, and bluntly produced posteriorly, distal edge strongly curved in its hind part.
Epimeral plate 3 produced at the lateral corners. Eyes very large, oval quadrangular in form, and nearly occupying the entire height of the head, pigment light red. Antenna 1 scarcely attaining half the length of the body, peduncle article 1 rather thick at the base, and longer than article 2, flagellum but little longer than the peduncle. Antenna 2 nearly as long as antenna 1, last peduncle article somewhat shorter than the penultimate one. Merus of gnathopod 1 produced to a rather projecting setiferous process, propodus as long as the carpus, with four spinules. Propodus of female gnathopod 2 not nearly attaining the length of the basis, and triangular oval in form, palm somewhat oblique, about as long as the hind margin, and defined from the latter by an obtuse angle, its edge nearly straight, very slightly serrated and armed in its posterior part with 3 small spinules; dactylus of moderate size.
Male gnathopod 2 very much produced, merus and carpus comparatively small, rounded and scarcely at all produced inferiorly; propodos very long and curved, its inferior edge slightly concave and densely hairy, without any dentiform projections, but forming in front a slight lamellar expansion, finely serrated at the edge; dactylus very much elongated and ciliated along the inner edge. Merus of pereiopods 5 to 7 very large and much produced at the inferior corner, which, on the last 2 pairs, extends even considerably beyond the carpus. Last pair of uropoda somewhat less robust, basis about the length of the other 2 together and armed with 5 denticles. Telson comparatively short and broad, with only 3 pairs of dorsal denticles.

Size:
Up to 6 mm.

Colour:
Uniformly whitish, without any pigmentation.

Habitat:
Deep water.

Distribution:
North Sea, Skagerrak, north Norway.

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