Carapace covered with sharp spinules which are directed forward and mostly arranged in longitudinal rows. Rostrum compressed and as long as carapace, being armed with 10 or 11 spines on upper margin, 6-8 on lower margin, and 1 or 2 on proximal lateral margin. Eyestalk with 7 or 8 spines. First three pereiopods chelate, and third pair is the strongest as usual; in each of fourth and fifth pereiopods carpus and propodus subdivided into 9 or 10, and 4-6, respectively; posterior border of propodus with about 15 movable spines. First to third abdominal segments covered with forward-directing spines, and fourth to sixth segments and telson with backward-directing spines, but posterior part of the third and whole surfaces of the fourth and fifth often almost smooth; pleura of each segment with three spines, and basal segment of each pleopod also fringed with spines.
Distribution:
West Atlantic from the Bermudas through the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies to French Guiana, 1-55 m deep.
Remarks:
There is a record of Stenopus hispidus (Oliver, 1811) from French Guiana, which is rather common in the Indo-West Pacific and the West Indies.