Description: A large prawn that can grow up to 16 cm, but is more commonly 4-5 cm, with a distinctive hump in its back. The body is translucent with pink patches and red longitudinal lines. It has a long, upward-curving rostrum which splits into two at the tip. There are 10-12 teeth on its dorsal edge. There is one spine below each eye. The front pair of legs bear claws and have white flecks and hairs. The second set of antennae have a banded pattern and are longer than the body.

Habitat: Occasionally found on the lower shore or rockpools, but more commonly found in the sublittoral.

Distribution: Present around Britain and Ireland, aside from the west coast of Ireland where few records exist.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with other less common species of large prawn found in the sublittoral.

Key Identification Features:

• Large sublittoral prawn
• Humped back
• Red longitudinal lines on body
• White flecks and hairs on front pair of legs

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

iNaturalist: Pandalus montagui at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Pandalus montagui at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Pandalus montagui Leach, 1814. AphiaID: 107651.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Caridea; Pandaloidea; Pandalidae; Pandalus