The carapace is flattened and covered in short fine hairs, length up to 12mm, width up to 12.5mm.

Chelae more slender than in P. elongatus, generally larger in the male.

Endemic to New Zealand, where it is widely distributed down to the Auckland Islands.

On hard shores sometimes found in the holdfasts of seaweed, especially Macrocystis sp.

Rarely found in the intertidal zone, more common from 3 to 75m deep.