Body opaque, with a faint bluish tint, may have patches of brown or reddish color
North Atlantic, Barents Sea, White Sea, Kara Sea. May occur in very large numbers.
Neritic, brackish species; occurs near the surface.
Female:
Body broadly oval in shape from dorsal view, the widest point of the cephalothorax is above the middle of the head. Abdomen about 2 times shoter than the cephalothorax. Caudal rami very long, with hairs on the inner edge. P5 small, uniramous, three-segmented, the distal segment contains 4 spines.
Male:
Right A1 geniculate. P5 asymmetrical; the left leg is more than twice larger than the left. The 2nd segment of the left leg with a large thumb-shaped growth. The distal segment of the right leg bent at a right angle at the base and carries a large spine on the outer edge.
Broadcast spawning species, do not carry egg sacs
