The posterior corners of the last thoracic segment are elongated and transformed into sharp points
Widely distributed in the Atlantic from sub-Antarctic waters to sub-Arctic seas. Found in the Mediterranean sea, Indian Ocean. Common in the North Pacific; northern boundary hard to identify to due mixing with E. bungii by many authors
Oceanic, epi- to bathypelagic species.
Female:
The front end of the cephalothorax is triangular in shape with lateral widenings. The sharp tip of the head forms almost a straight angles. Abdomen is 8 times shorter than the cephalothorax. Posterior corners of the last thoracic segment are elongated and transformed into sharp points, this is characteristic for the species. Abdomen 3-segmented. The ventral projection on the genital segment is 3-5 times longer than wide. The distal edges of the spermathecae are usually located higher than the posterior edge of the genital plate.
A1 are longer than the body by 4-7 segments, are slightly asymmetrical, the left is shorter than the right by 2 segments.
The base of the mandibular palpus carries 3 setae.
Mx2 has 3 inner lobes.
The exopodite of P1 is 3-segmented, the distal segment carries 1 outer spine, the endopodite is 2-segmented.
Male:
The front of the cephalosome is more obtuse than in the female. P5 uniramous, 4-segmented, the right leg is significantly shorter than the left. The 3rd segment of the left leg carries a spine, which reaches beyond the border of the 3rd and 4th segments by 1/3 of its length.