A. mercatoris is a small species with females reaching 5 cm ML and males 3.5 cm ML. In general appearance it resembles species of Lolliguncula and Loliolus. Afrololigo mercatoris is known only from the west African coast where it has been collected at depths of less than 50 m on mud and sandy mud bottoms.

Brief diagnosis:

A loliginid ...

• with short mantle, rounded posteriorly; fins wider than long but without posterior lobes.
• without a ventral crest on the hectocotylus.
• with distribution restricted to waters off West Africa.