I. *08. 137 



Crangon vulgaris, Linn. 



PI. XXT. figs. 1, a-d. 



Crangon vulgaris, Bell, 1853, fig., p. 256. 



Crangon vulgaris, Sars, 1890, PL i, figs. 1-28 (develop- 

 ment). 



Crangon vulgaris, Ehrenbaum, 1900 (life-history). 



Rostrum dorsally hollowed, rather broad at bnse, and taper- 

 ing to an evenly rounded point. Carapace armed with three 

 spines, one in the mid-dorsal line about one-third the distance 

 from the rostrum to the posterior edge of the carapace, the 

 others placed laterally and slightly in advance of the median 

 spine. From the posterior edge of the orbit a narrow groove 

 runs outwards and backwards, becoming obsolete at about the 

 middle of the carapace and there is also a shallow depression 

 between the orbital and antero-lateral angles. Posterior half 

 of carapace unarmed, smooth, and rounded. Ahdominal 

 somites all rounded above, though occasionally the sixth is 

 slightly flattened dorsally. 



Basal joint of antennular peduncle longer than second and 

 third combined and furnished below with a stout spine beset 

 with hairs ; lateral process acutely pointed and reaching distal 

 end of joint ; second joint about equal in length to third : outer 

 antennular flagellum in the female not reaching the apex of 

 the antennal scale. Antenyial scale (fig. lb) straight along its 

 outer border and terminating in a tooth which extends beyond 

 the lamellar portion, much narrowed distally and about two 

 and three-quarter times as long as broad. First pereiopod 

 with the merus armed with a stout spine in the middle of its 

 inner border. 



Colour ill life. — Uniform light or dark mottled grey, often 

 with an almost black transverse band across the posterior 

 portions of the fourth abdominal somite. The telson and 

 uropods are also very frequently darker than the general 

 colouring. As has been repeatedly noticed, this species is 

 usually of a dark colour when found on a muddy bottom, 

 v^hereas specimens living on sand are of a much lighter shade. 



Size. — Large specimens attain a length of 70 mm. or more. 



Crangon vulgaris is very largely fished off the English and 

 Scotch coasts, but in Ireland it is very rarely, if ever, used for 

 food. , 



General distribution. — N.E. Atlantic from the White Sea 

 (Birula) and East Finmark (Norman) to the Mediterranean 

 (both north and south shores) ; usually found in abundance. 

 Kroyer has recorded the species from Iceland. 



