(Fabricius, 1780)
Description:
Body rather slim, with the lateral processes well separated. Cephalon about as long as the three succeeding segments together, neck slender cylindrical, frontal part greatly expanded. Abdomen comparatively small, cylindrical and directed upwards.
Ocular tubercle high, conical acuminated. Proboscis comparatively large, almost the length of the cephalon. Chelifores well developed, the hand as long as the scape, nearly cylindrical and densely beset with short hairs; fingers half as long and gently curved at the tips. Palps comparatively long, with five segments; the 2nd segment uncommonly short, about half as long as the 3rd segment; last segment twice as long as the penultimate one, and tapering towards the tip.
Ovigerous legs with ten segments present in both sexes; in male exceedingly elongated, more than half as long as the body, 5th segment somewhat longer than the 4th one; terminal part shorter than the 5th segment; marginal spines slender, lanceolate, with a pair of strong teeth near the base, outer part finely serrated.
Ambulatory legs slender and elongated, four times the length of the body, nearly bare; tibia 2 a third longer than the femur and three times as long as the terminal part; tarsus linear, usually longer than the propodus; propodus curvate with about six elongate spines on the inner edge; terminal claw half as long as the propodus; auxiliary claws half the length of the terminal claw.
Length of the body up to 6 mm; the extent between the points of the ambulatory legs reaching 54 mm.
Habitat:
Shallow sublittoral.
Distribution:
A northern species, Greenland, east coast of North America, Barents Sea, Kara Sea and Norway.