Description: This shrimp can reach 9 cm but is more commonly 6-7 cm. Pale colouration with red or orange spots and markings. It has a fairly straight, occasionally downturned rostrum with 5 – 7 teeth (rarely specimens have had between 4 and 9 teeth). Towards the front of the carapace there are a few spines. Large forward-facing spine at the base of the antennae. The body is curved towards the tail at the back, with 8 – 11 unevenly spaced pairs of spines on its final segment (telson).

Habitat: Found on a variety of hard and soft substrates, down to 900 m, but more common in 30 – 300 m depth range.

Distribution: A northern species, currently there are no records from Britain or Ireland.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with Pandalus montagui, but red and orange markings on Lebbeus polaris are prominent.

Key Identification Features:

• Pale colour with striking red or orange colouration.
• Rostrum usually has 5 -7 teeth, and there is a large spine at base of antennae.
• Body curved towards tail.
• 8-11 unevenly spaced pairs of spines on telson.

Distribution Map from NBN: Lebbeus polaris at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Lebbeus polaris at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Lebbeus polaris at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Lebbeus polaris (Sabine, 1824). AphiaID: 107521.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Caridea; Alpheoidea; Thoridae; Lebbeus