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- 147 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
TECHNICAL TERMS
longitudinal suture
antennal flagellum
transverse suture 1 to 6 abdominal
segments (or somites)
rostrum carapace
flagella
antennula
antenna dorsal
crest
telson
pleopods
tail
uropod
fan
pereopods
or legs
epigastric (or 1st
rostral teeth rostral) tooth
apical
portion postorbital spine
rostrum
suprahepatic spin
antennal crest cervical groove
(tip)
hepatic spine
orbito -antennal
groove epatic crest
orbital margin
gastrofrontal crest
gastrofrontal groove
gastro-orbital crest
carapace (lateral view)
median groove
postrostral crest
adrostral groove
adrostral crest
non-grooved
carapace
carapace (dorsal view)
spines spines
fixed movable
types of spined telsons
- 148 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
FAO names : En - Penaeid shrimps, pennies prawns
Fr - Crevettes, crevettes chamois, crevettes royales
Sp - Camarones peneiedo s, gambas
Size : Max.: to more than 30 cm total length,
but most species much smaller
Fishing gear : Various kinds of seines, stake-
nets and castnets, used in shallow waters, and
trawlers in offshore waters
Habitat and biology : Benthic, living on a large variety of bottoms such as rock, mud, sand, etc. In the genus
Penaeus spawning takes place offshore, at depths between 10 and 80 m. Females bear sperm sacs attached to
the thelycum (genital modification between the last pair of walking legs) which are used when the eggs are shed.
After fertilization, the eggs hatch in a few hours. The planktonic larvae are carried by currents toward the shore
where they arrive after about 3 weeks, at a size of 6 to 14 mm. Further development to the adult stage takes
place in brackish waters, river mouths, creeks, mangrove areas and the cycle is completed with migration to
offshore waters for spawning.
Interest to fisheries : This family contains the greatest number of commercially important species of shrimps in
Pakistan, as well as worldwide. The fishery is carried out in shallow waters from October to March, while in
July, August and September shrimps and prawns are caught in creeks and backwaters. Most of the catches are
frozen for export to the USA and European markets. The Handbook of Fisheries Statistics of Pakistan (1973-83)
reports catches of peneid shrimps and prawns ranging from 15 829 t (1974) to 30 000 t (1981), with an average of
22 285 t
Metapenaeus affinis (H.Milne Edwards, 1837)
Synonyms : Metapenaeus mutatus (Lanchester, 1901)
Metapenaeus alcocki George & Rao, 1968
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin); Kalri, Madak (Bal)
FAO names : En - Jinga shrimp
Fr - Crevette jinga
Sp - Camarón jinga
Size : 15 cm (males) and 19 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with shrimp trawls off-
shore, and seines, stakenets and other types of
artisanal gear in shallow inshore waters
Habitat and biology : From the coastline to
about 60 m depth (sometimes deeper) on mud
and sandy-mud bottoms. Juveniles inhabit
estuarine areas and backwaters
petasma,
ventral view thelycum
- 149 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
Metapenaeus brevicornis (H.Milne Edwards, 1837)
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Jaira (Sin); Jaira, Lassa (Bal)
FAO names : En - Yellow shrimp
Fr - Crevette jaune.
Sp - Camarón amarillo
Size : 10 cm (males) and 13 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with stakenets, traps,
castnets and other types of artisanal gear; also
in trawls
Habitat and biology : A marine to almost fresh-
water species, on sandy or muddy bottoms to
about 40 m depth, but also reported in depths of
90 m. Juveniles are found in estuaries, creeks
and backwaters
petasma,
ventral view thelycum
Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius, 1798)
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin); Kalri (Bal)
FAO names : En - Speckled shrimp
Fr - Crevette mouchetée
Sp - Camarón moteado
Size : 15 cm (males) and 20 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with shrimp trawls in
offshore waters, and seines, stakenets, cast-
nets and other types of artisanal gear in
inshore and nearshore waters
Habitat and biology : From the coastline to
70 m depth, but also reported from 170 m
depth, on sandy, mud or silt bottoms. Juve-
niles inhabit estuaries, backwaters and inshore
waters. Breeds in deeper waters off Karachi
and Somniani Bay, during winter and spring
(February to May)
- 150 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
Metapenaeus stebbingi Nobili, 1904
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin); Kalri (Bal)
FAO names : En - Peregrine shrimp
Fr - Crevette fauçon
Sp - Camarón peregrino
Size : 11 cm (males) and 14 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught in trawls in deeper
waters, and with seines, stakenets, castnets
and other types of artisanal gear in shallow,
i nshore waters
Habitat and biology : Found from the shore to
about 90 m depth on sandy or muddy bottoms.
Juveniles are found nearshore
merus of fifth petasma,
telson ventral view
pereopod (male) thelycum
Parapenaeopsis hardwickii ( Miers, 1878)
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Kiddi (Sin); Kalri (Bal)
FAO names : En - Spear shrimp
Fr - Crevette javelot
Sp - Camarón lanzón
Size : 11 cm (males) and 14 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught in trawls, stakenets,
seines and other types of artisanal gear
Habitat and biology : From the coastline to
about 90 m depth, on mud, sandy-mud or sandy
bottoms
- 151 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
Parapenaeopsis sculptilis (Heller, 1862)
Synonyms : Parapenaeopsis affinis sensu Hall, 1962
rostrum in large males
Loc. names : Kiddi (Sin); Kalri (Bal)
Tiger shrimp (English)
FAO names : En - Rainbow shrimp
Fr - Crevette arc-en-ciel
Sp - Camarón arco iris
Size : 11 cm (males) and 17 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with stakenets, seines
and in trawls
Habitat and biology : In shallow waters, from
the coastline to 40 m depth on sandy, mud or
mixed bottoms
Parapenaeopsis stylifera (H.Milne Edwards, 1837)
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Kiddi (Sin); Kiddi, Madak (Bal)
FAO names : En - Kiddi shrimp
Fr - Crevette kidi
Sp - Camarón kidi
Size : 12 cm (males) and 15 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with seines, stakenets
and in trawls
Habitat and biology : Most common from the
coastline to 50 m depth, but also occurring to
90 m depth, on mud or sandy-mud bottoms.
The entire life cycle takes place at sea.
Breeding occurs in February and March
telson petasma,
ventral view
- 152 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
Panaeus ( Melicertus) canaliculatus (Oliver, 1811)
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin); Madak (Bal)
FAO names : En - Witch prawn
Fr - Crevette sorcière
Sp - Camarón brujo
Size : 15 cm (males) and 18 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with stakenets and bag-
nets, possibly also in trawls
Habitat and biology : From the coastline to
about 50 m depth, also in estuaries and back-
waters
Penaeus ( Marsupenaeus ) japonicus Bate, 1888
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin);
Kalri, Pata patti ( Kalmat area) (Bal)
FAO names : En - Kuruma shrimp
Fr - Crevette kuruma
Sp - Camarón kuruma
Size : 20 cm (males) and 24 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught in trawls, driftnets and
stakenets
Habitat and biology : From the coastline to
about 50m depth on sandy bottoms. Adults
bury in the substrate during daytime
- 153 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus ) indicus H.Milne Edwards, 1837
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Jaira (Sin); Jaira (Bal)
FAO names : En - Indian white shrimp
Fr - Crevette royale blanche (des Indes)
Sp - Camarón bianco de la India
Size : 18 cm (males) and 23 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Habitat and biology : Found from the coastline
to about 90 m depth but most common to
30 m, over sandy or mud bottoms
Penaeus ( Fenneropenaeus ) marguiensis De Man, 1888
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Jaira (Sin); Jaira (Bal)
FAO names : En - Banana shrimp
Fr - Crevette banane
Sp - Camarón banana
Size : 20 cm (males) and 24 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught mainly in trawls, shrimp
driftnets, set gillnets, stakenets, seines, scoop-
nets and other types of artisanal gear
Habitat and biology : Found from the coastline
to about 50 m depth, but most abundant to
20 m, on sandy and sandy-mud bottoms. Pre-
fers turbid waters. This species together with
P. penicillatus is by far the most important in
Pakistan. Breeding occurs in deeper waters
from December to April
- 15 4 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
Penaeus ( Penaeus) monodon Fabricius , 1798
Synonyms : Penaeus bubulus Kubo , 1949
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin); Tiger madak, Kalri (Bal)
Tiger shrimp (En)
FAO names : En - Giant tiger shrimp
Fr - Crevette géante tigrée
Sp - Camarón tigre gigante
Size : 27 cm (males) and 34 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with trawls, seines, stake-
nets, traps, etc.
Habitat and biology : From the coastline to
about 150 m depth, occasionally in deeper
waters. Large concentrations are found at
about 60 m, on mud or sand. Juveniles in
mangrove swamps, estuaries and backwaters
Penaeus ( Fenneropenaeus ) penicillatus Alcock, 1905
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Jaira (Sin); Jaira (Bal)
FAO names : En - Red tail prawn
Fr - Crevette queue rouge
Sp - Camarón colorado
Size : 16 cm (males) and 21 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with trawls and seines
(adults) and scoopnets and other artisanal gear
(juveniles and subadults )
Habitat and biology : Found from the coastline
to 90 m depth, but most abundant in shallow
waters near the shore, on sandy and mud
bottoms. Breeding occurs in October to May
- 155 -
SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS
PENAEIDAE
Penaeus ( Penaeus) semisulcatus DeHaan, 1844
Synonyms : None
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin); Jaira (Bal)
FAO names : En - Green tiger prawn
Fr - Crevette tigrée verte
Sp - Camarón tigre verde
Size : 18 cm (males) and 23 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with trawls and drift-
nets, seines, stakenets and other types of
artisanal gear
Habitat and biology : Found from the coastline
to about 130 m depth, but most abundant to
60 m depth on mud, sandy-mud or sandy-grit
bottoms. Buries in the substrate during day-
time. Breeding occurs in January to May
SOLENOCERIDAE
Solenocera crassicornis (H.Milne Edwards, 1837)
Synonyms : Solenocera indica Nataraj, 1945
Solenocera subnuda Kilo, 1949
Loc. names : Kalri (Sin); Madak (Bal)
FAO names : En - Coastal mud shrimp
Fr - Salicoque des vases côtières
Sp - Camarón fanguero de orilla
Size : 9 cm (males) and 14 cm (females) maxi-
mum total length
Fishing gear : Caught with trawls, stakenets
and seines
Habitat and biology : Found from the coastline
to about 80 m depth, but most common to
20 m depth on muddy bottoms
telson
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