It is a decapod crustacean in the family Nephropidae. It is an important commercial species due to its delicious taste. They have an elongated body much smaller than other especies in its genus. The first pair of thoracic legs is enlarged with large claws that are slightly asymmetric. The second and the third pair of legs also have claws.

The abdomen is segmented, ending in a broad tail fan. They have black kidney-shaped eyes, two carinas or longitudinal ridges on the rostrum, carinas on the carapace and claws. They are pink pale in colour. They only come out at dusk and at dawn to eat.

It can be found at depths of 800 m (2624ft). They live in waters of the western Mediterranean Sea.