Description: This amphipod has a compact body up to 10 mm in length. It is yellow in colour with white speckling or flecks. It has large oval or kidney-shaped eyes and there are conspicuous lateral lobes on the head. Gnathopod 1 is simple and tapered with some small spines on the inner surface, it is smaller than gnathopod 2, which is more slender. The telson is short and wide, end is straight with no notches.

Habitat: Amongst algae intertidally and in shallow sublitoral.

Distribution: Recorded from most coasts around Britain and Ireland, although appears to be rare in NE of Britain and NW Ireland. May be under-recorded.

Similar Species: Amphipods can be hard to distinguish in the field as many require microscopic examination and specialist guides. Careful inspection of the key features and a specialist key may be required to reliably distinguish this from other similar species.

Key Identification Features:

• Compact yellow body up to 10 mm, flecked with white.
• Large oval or kidney shaped eyes.
• Conspicuous lateral lobes on head.
• Gnathopod 1 smaller than gnathopod 2.
• Short, wide telson with straight end and no notches.

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

iNaturalist: Lysianassa ceratina at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Lysianassa ceratina

WoRMS: Lysianassa ceratina at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Lysianassa ceratina (Walker, 1889). AphiaID: 102605.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Peracarida; Amphipoda; Amphilochidea; Lysianassida; Lysianassidira; Lysianassoidea; Lysianassidae; Lysianassinae; Lysianassa