Eurydice affinis Hansen, 1905
ID Difficulty
4
Identification
Eurydice are small, fast-swimming predators and scavengers with oval bodies and elongated pleotelsons. The peduncle of the antenna has four segments, whilst the second segment of the antennule is at a right angle to the first. The body is off-white with various darker markings, and the eyes are prominent.
E. affinis differs from the much more common E. pulchra in being somewhat smaller on average (males up to 5 mm, females up to 6 mm) and in the dark markings being restricted to the dorsal surface. The most significant characteristics is that the coxal plates of pereon somites 6 and 7 are not extended into points, and this feature should be examined closely to confirm identification.
Distribution and Habitat
Found on sandy shores in the south-west and Wales amongst E. pulchra.
Distribution
Reference
Naylor, E. & A. Brandt. 2015. Intertidal Marine Isopods. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series), No. 3. Field Studies Council, for The Linnean Society of London.