A deep-sea large species, with very long exopods of pleopods. No spines on carapace except for antennal and branchiostegal spines; gastro-orbital and hepatic carinae strong and parallel to each other, antennal carina being very short; cervical groove obscure dorsally, extending anteriorly to median part of hepatic carina; branchio-cardiac carina not so sharp, but distinct, being separated from hepatic carina by a transverse carina which reaches nearly to submarginal carina. Rostrum usually about two-thirds as long as carapace and only weakly curved upward; three sharp teeth on upper margin, the median one being at level of orbit. Third to sixth abdominal segments with a distinct dorsal median carina, terminating each in a sharp tooth.
Distribution:
West Atlantic from south of Nova Scotia to French Guiana, and the East Atlantic from Portugal to South Africa, 275-1,850 m deep.
Remarks:
The close congener, P. armatus (Bate), is a deeper inhabitant, having a global distribution at the depths of 750-5,400 m.