Carapace transverse, with a very long lateral tubercle at each side; dorsal surface uneven, but no definite ridges except for sinuate one from each lateral tubercle, a transverse linear one uniting both protogastric regions and a longitudinal indistinct one on intestinal region. Front with four subequal spines. Anterolateral border of carapace armed with eight spines including an external orbital one. Chelipeds long; an extraordinary long tubercle at inner angle of carpus, which reaches to half way of movable finger and is fringed with close-set soft hairs along inner margin; palm long and possible to be bent outward to about an angle.
Distribution:
West Atlantic from North Carolina to Lio de Janeiro, Brazil, 10-470 m deep.
Remarks:
The Pacific analogue, P. iridescens (Rathbun) from the vicinity of the Lower Carlifornia, is readily distinguished by the presence of a spine at each lateral end of the posterior border of carapace.