This Chapter contains information on 70 major commercial shrimp species and one species of krill. The format for each species is standardized to make it as simple as possible to find the information you need.
HOW TO FIND A PARTICULAR SHRIMP
The order is basically alphabetical, by scientific (Latin) name, as this is the only universally understood nomenclature. At the end of the book, there are four very comprehensive indexes. The Index of Scientific N ames will enable you to find any species by either word in its scientific name. For example, Crangonfranciscorum is indexed under both Crangon and under franciscorum. The Index of Common, Commercial and F.AO. N ames will help you find an entry under whatever name you happen to have. The Combined Index contains all of these words, together with topic and key words from the General Index.
SPECIES AND FAMILY The scientific name is given at the
top of the page, with the family name underneath. For an explanation of these names, see the entry in The
Shrimp Encyclopedia, Chapter Three under Scientific Names. For an explanation of the family structure of shrimp species, see Chapter 'TWo, Identifying Shrimp.
Latin names of species are used and understood throughout the world. The system was agreed upon and codified in 1901 and, despite some flaws, works extremely well. Each species is generally referred to by two Latin words. The first, which is capitalized, is the generic name. The second, which is lower-case, is the specific name. For example, the species Metaperweus monoceros shows that the creature is in the genus Metapenaeus.
Once the genus is understood, the first word is often abbreviated to its initial. If we are discussing a number of species with Perweus as the first name, such as Perweus monodon, subsequent references to species would be in the form P monodon. This convention is also used in this book.
EA.O.NAMES The FAO names in English, French
and Spanish are given for each species listed in this book. For a full explanation of these, see the entry F.AO. N ames in The Shrimp Encyclopedia, Chapter Three.
F.Ao.'s annotated catalogue of the world's shrimp and prawn species includes a standard name for each species. This name is given in English, French and Spanish. In almost all cases, the three languages use the same name. For example, Metapenaeus barbata is called whiskered velvet shrimp in English, crevette chamois barbulee in French and camaron gamuza barbudo in Spanish. These names all translate the same way.
The importance of these FAO. names is that they provide the only worldwide method of communication about shrimp species, other than using the scientific names in Latin which are cumbersome and difficult to recall. Common names are often shared by more than one species - there are numerous "white shrimp" - so the FA.o. names at least limit the description to a single species.
COMMON AND COMMERCIAL NAMES
We have collected as many names as possible from as many countries and regions as possible, for each species. Where the names come from languages which do not use the Roman alphabet, they have been transliterated so far as possible with standard conventions used by international agencies such as the United Nations. However, these spellings are necessarily arbitrary.
SIZE We give the overall length of the
shrimp's body and tail. Note, however, that shrimp vary in the proportion of tail, which is the part of commercial
50
interest. A longer shrimp does not necessarily provide a larger tail.
THE COLOR PICTURE These pictures represent so far as
possible the way the live shrimp looks. Because shrimp vary enormously between different individuals, and because most live shrimp are basically translucent with color more suggested than solid, it is not possible to provide a "definitive" picture. Even in the scientific literature, the colors of a species are often described quite differently by different observers. These pictures represent each species as accurately as possible.
IDENTIFICATION DRAWINGS The purpose of these drawings is to
highlight some of the more important - and readily identifiable - parts of the species to aid recognition in general. The information will not always be sufficient to permit a positive species identification, but will certainly help in the field in recognizing within limits what type of shrimp you are handling.
It must be stressed that these drawings cannot be used to make exact species identifications. Many species share features to the point where they are almost identical. Indeed, some of them have only been defined as separate species recently, after many years when they were thought to be the same shrimp. In the last resort, proper identification depends on a number of features such as the shape of the sexual organs. Examining these requires the use of a magnifying glass or microscope. Proper identification also usually requires the assistance of a welltrained and experienced taxonomist.
The Dlustrated Guide
For more details, see Chapter 1\vo, Identification.
DISTRffiUTION Under this heading, we outline
where the species is found, worldwide. For each species, there is a map showing geographical distribution. For most species, we also include details
of the type of shore or bottom where the shrimp is most often found.
COMMENTS This final section contains a wide
range of information on such topics as the color, edibility, and commercial importance of the species. Any other interesting and useful facts are included here.
Malaysia: Udang gragok; Udang bubok; U dang geregau
Philippines: Alamang
Thailand: K wei kung
Vietnam: Con ruoc
Size: This is a very small shrimp; maximum size is 30 mm (about 1.25 inches).
Distribution: The akiami paste shrimp is a marine species which lives in shallow water over muddy bottoms throughout the Indian Ocean-West
52
Imllan Ocean
Pacific Ocean region from the West coast of India to Korea, including Japan, China and Indonesia.
Comments: This tiny shrimp is made into shrimp paste or shrimp powder. There are several very similar species, which are not distinguished in use. The local names may apply to any of these species, which include A. erythraeus, A. indicus, A. intermedius and A. sibogae.
It is a very important catch in Northern China and Korea as well as in South-West India, especially the Trivandrum region in July. Catches are also recorded in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is most important in China, representing until the late 1970sand early 1980s as much as 80 percent of landings, amounting to over 300 million pounds (150,000 tonnes).
Note that this is Naf the same shrimp as the Australian royal red prawn, Haliporoides sibogae, for which the FAO name is jack-knife shrimp.
Size: The species grows to 225 mm (9 inches). The New Zealand variety is a little smaller, reaching only about 150 mm (6 inches).
54
Distribution: A marine shrimp, the giant red lives in deep water, between 250 and 1,300 meters (800 and 4,200 feet), on muddy bottoms. It prefers water around 13.5°C. It is trawled in the shallower part of its range, to as deep as 700 meters (2,300 feet). The species is found in the eastern Atlantic off Morocco and South West Sahara and in the Mediterranean Sea. In the western Atlantic it can be found south of Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. It also lives in the Indian Ocean from East Mrica to Japan as well as in New Zealand and Fiji. Scientists are not certain whether the Indo-Pacific populations are the same shrimp or a (very) slightly different species.
Comments: This is the Spanish red shrimp which is highly regarded in the USA as well as all around the Mediterranean. It is fished throughout the Mediterranean. Some catches are also made off Venezuela. The IndoPacific variety is caught off Madagascar, South Africa and New Zealand. It is found in small areas, not
Aristaeomorpha joliacea
extensively through its range. Commercially important for its quality, amounts landed are never large. It is often caught with Aristeus antennatus, the blue and red shrimp, which it closely resembles.
developed crest
~=~:-:--=--- rostrum iong and ;; benl.upwards in
females and young males. Males have shorter rostrum
The species is highly regarded in many Mediterranean countries. The flesh, though rather soft, is exceptionally well flavo.red. The deep red color of the cooked shrimp is also most appealing.
55
Aristeus antennatus Family: Aristaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Blue and red shrimp French: Crevette rouge Spanish: Gamba rosada
Common and Commercial Names: France: Crevette rouge
Size: The blue and red shrimp grows as large as 220 mm (8. 7 inches).
56
Allanite Ocean
Distribution: A marine shrimp, which prefers bottoms of soft mud and temperatures close to 13°C., this species is found throughout the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic from Portugal to the Cape Verde Islands. It lives in deep water, between 200 meters (650 feet) and 1,440 meters (4,700 feet). It is more common in the western Mediterranean and is trawled off N.W. Africa as well as along the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, France, Italy and Malta.
Comments: A red'shrimp similar to Aristaeomorphafoliacea the giant red shrimp and often caught with it, this species is sold fresh in many Mediterranean countries, where it is highly esteemed. Like many deepwater shrimp, the meat is a little soft, but very tasty.
Size: The species grows to about 145 mm (5.7 inches).
Distribution: The stiletto shrimp is found along the shore in water that is a little less than full ocean salinity,
58
South -- Atlantic
Ocean
with temperatures between goC. and 22°C. (46 to 72F.) and mainly at the higher end of this temperature range. Geographical range extends from Rio de Janeiro south to Puerto Rawson in Patagonia.
Comments: This shrimp is fished mainly in Argentina and also in Uruguay and southern Brazil. Smaller than the Argentine pink shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) it is less important commercially. Argentine production in the past has been as high as 500 metric tonnes (1.1 million pounds). This was in 1973. Average catches are closer to half this level.
Common and Commercial Names: Japan: Zako ebi; Ebi zako
Size: This sand shrimp grows to about 68 mm (2.67 inches) with a carapace length of only 17 mm (0.7 inches).
Distribution: This is a marine, sometimes brackish-water shrimp, living from the beach down to 219
60
PaCIfiC
Ocean
meters (700 feet). Found only in the Northwest Pacific from Siberia to Japan, via Korea and China.
Comments: The Japanese sand shrimp is of some commercial importance in northern China and Japan. It is virtually identical to Crangon crangon, the common shrimp, and not all scientists agree that it is a distinct species.
Crangon affinis
no rostrum
61
Crangon crangon Family: Crangonidae
EA.O. Names: English: Common shrimp French: Crevette grise Spanish: Quisquilla
Common and Commercial Names: Belgium and Holland: Gewone garnaal
Distribution: The common shrimp lives on sand or muddy sand bottom in coastal waters, usually no deeper than 20 meters (65 feet). This is a marine shrimp, distributed in the Eastern Atlantic from the White Sea to Portugal and Morocco, in the North Sea, the Baltic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Comments: This is a very important commercial shrimp in the North Sea. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom all make substantiallanciings. West Germany and the Netherlands are the most important producers. It is also landed in significant quantities from the central Mediterranean.
The brown shrimp is usually cooked on board the fishing vessel and sold either whole cooked, or as cooked and peeled tails. It has a mild flavor, much liked in the Northern European countries. Very small brown shrimp may even be eaten whole, with the shell.
Crangon crangon
median spine
Sometimes classified as C. vulgaris, the shrimp's growth, maturity and spawning are all influenced strongly by the salinity and temperature of the water. This results in widely variable catches in different areas.
Common and Commercial Names: United States: California shrimp; Bay shrimp; Gray shrimp
Size: This is a small shrimp, growing only to 80 mm Gust over 3 inches) long.
Distribution: A marine shrimp, found on both sandy and mud bottoms in shallow water down to 50 meters (160 feet). It lives only in the Eastern Pacific from Alaska to Southern California.
64
North Pacific Ocean
Comments: The gray shrimp from San Francisco Bay was a major resource towards the end of the nineteenth century and as late as 1954 this species together with two similar Crangon species made up three quarters of the total California shrimp catch. Since then, the Pandalus species have become the more important part of the catch.
Common and Commercial Names: Chile: Camar6n de rio del Norte; Changallo (male only)
Chile and Peru: Camar6n de rio
Size: The changallo shrimp grows to 185 mm (7.3 inches).
Distribution: As the names indicate, this shrimp is found in the rivers of Northern Chile and Peru. Although it is a freshwater shrimp, it spawns at sea.
66
South Pacific Ocean
The young larvae return to the rivers to grow and mature.
Comments: Overexploited because of its good taste and consequent high price, the changallo shrimp is no longer of great commercial interest. Once sold fresh on local markets, the resource has now been closed to fishing to allow stocks to recover. As recently as 1967, 100 metric tonnes (220,000 lbs) were caught in Peru alone.
Aquaculture experiments with the species are said to be showing some promise.
Common and Commercial Names: Germany: Antarktischer Krill
Denmark: Antarktiske lyskrebs
France: Krill, antarctique
United Kingdom: Krill
Italy: Eufausiacei
Iceland: Lj6sata, krili
Japan: N ankyokuokiami
Norway: Antarktisk Krill
Netherlands: Krill, walvisaas
Russian: Antarkticheskyi krill
Sweden: Antarktisk Krill
Finland: Antarktinen Krilli
Spain: Krill antartico
Size: Antarctic krill is the largest of the 85 krill species known and reaches 130 mm (4.6 inches).
Distribution: Potentially, one of the largest crustacean resources available. Lives all around the Antarctic continent in the polar region, with particularly large populations known in the East Wind Drift, the Scotia Sea, the Weddell Drift and off the Antarctic Peninsula and the KerguelenGaussberg Ridge.
It often lives in large shoals, usually near the surface and seldom deeper than 100 meters (325 feet). Shoals
68
Antarctic Ocean
exceeding 100 kilometres square (60 miles square) have been sighted.
Comments: Antarctic krill is a shrimp-like crustacean. Technically it is a plankton, but it is able to swim actively and forages for food, making it much more like a regular shrimp in behavior. Enormous quantities of this creature have been recorded in the Antarctic and fishing, mainly by West Germany, Japan, the U .S.S.R. and Poland, may already exceed one million tons a year. The huge resource is related to the decline of the whales which used to feed on them. Now the whales are largely gone, the krill are flourishing.
Although shrimp-like, krill are not shrimp and cannot be used like shrimp. The shell is quite hard and thick, so that meat yields are low. The meat is also difficult to extract. The huge quantities caught at one time add to the difficulties of processing on board the fishing vessels. Fishermen have to deal with the intense cold and storms of the Antarctic, too.
Euphausia superba
body translucent spotted with red
no spines at ends of segments
Because of these difficulties, krill has not become the cheap protein that some of its early promoters hoped for. Much of the fishing effort remains at least partly experimental. Markets are only slowly developing for the shrimpflavored paste that is still the most
no rostrum
spherical eyes
readily made product. Plans to use the resource as a food supply for ranched salmon placed in streams in southern areas of Chile and New Zealand may offer better prospects for utilizing Antarctic krill, indirectly, for human consumption.
Common and Commercial Names: Bangladesh: Gara icha
Bangladesh and West Bengal, India: Ghora chingri
West Bengal, India: Roshna
Size: A small shrimp, growing to 90 mm (3.54 inches).
72
Indian Ocean
Distribution: Found in shallow coastal water, mainly marine but also in brackish water and even sometimes in fresh water. Its range is from Pakistan, around India to Thailand and Indonesia.
Comments: This is a major small shrimp in India. Greyish, it is caught in large quantities especially around Bombay and in the Ganges Delta region, where it is sometimes farmed in rice fields. This is one of numerous species which are peeled and frozen for export.
Common and Commercial Names: Chile: Camar6n de profundidad
Japan: Higenagaebe-zoku
Peru: Gamba; Camar6n de mar
Size: The Chilean knife shrimp grows to about 215 mm (S.5 inches) with a carapace length of 100 mm (nearly 4 inches).
Distribution: A marine shrimp of the eastern Pacific, ranging from the southern part of Panama to about halfway down the long coast of Chile (to about 36° S), mostly caught in the southern portion of its range. Lives
74
South Pacific Ocean
over muddy bottoms in very deep water from 240 meters (SOO feet) to 1360 meters (4,500 feet).
Comments: There is potential commercial interest in this shrimp, but the great depths at which it is found make it difficult to catch. Once these technical problems are solved, it is likely that the resource will be of value. It appears that there may be large quantities available.
This is a pink shrimp with soft, wellflavored flesh, like most deep-water shrimp. It is the only member of its genus found in American waters.
Common and Commercial Names: South Africa: Knife prawn
Southeast Africa: Pink prawn
Size: The knife shrimp reaches 150 mm (nearly 6 inches) with a carapace length of 50 mm (2 inches).
Distribution: A marine shrimp found along the Indian Ocean coast of southern Africa. Lives on soft mud
76
Indian Ocean
bottom at depths between 360 and 460 meters (about 1,200 to 1,500 feet).
Comments: Used fresh, sold mainly as peeled, raw tails, the species is important commercially in both South Africa, where it is landed at the Indian Ocean port of Durban, and in Mozambique.
first rostral
Haliporoides triarthrus
wide gap between first rostral tooth and epigastric tooth
Size: The smooth nylon shrimp grows to about 180 mm (seven inches).
Distribution: A deep water marine shrimp found from 300 to 1150 meters (about 1000 to 3,800 feet) on sand or sandy mud bottoms. It is widely dispersed, living in the eastern Atlantic from Madeira to the Cape Verde Islands and in the Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to the Arabian Sea, and through the Malay
78
archipelago. A population has also been found off Hawaii.
Comments: Shrimp living at such depths are hard to catch. There is a possibility of developing a trap fishery off Madagascar and Reunion, in very deep water. In this area, the concentration of the shrimp is thought to be large enough to support a commercial fishery. As with many other deep-water shrimp, however, little is known about it and real potential has yet to be established.
Common and Commercial Names: Chile: Camaron nailon; Camaron de profundidad; Gamba
Japan: Minoebi-zoku
Size: This is a medium size shrimp, with a carapace length of about 34 mm ( 1.33 inches) and total length of 190 mm (7.5 inches).
Distribution: A marine shrimp found only in the Eastern Pacific off Chile and southern Peru between latitudes
80
South Pacific Ocean
25° and 39° South. It lives over clay, mud or sandy mud in water from 155 to 425 meters (about 500 to 1,400 feet).
Comments: The Chilean nylon shrimp is trawled. In the late 1960s, it was reported to constitute 95 percent of the Chilean shrimp catch. Landings were subsequently severely restricted to preserve the resource. The nylon shrimp is used locally fresh, dried or cooked and peeled. Small quantities are exported from time to time.
Small quantities are reported to be caught in Peru.
Common and Commercial Names: Brazil: Camarao pitu; Pitu; Camarao do rio
France: Crevette d'eau douce
Italy: Gambero americano d'acqua dolce
Japan: Tenagaebi-zoku
Mexico: Langostino; Camar6n de agua dulce; Cauque; Chacal.
Netherlands: Zoetwatergarnaal
Portugal: Camarao
Venezuela: Camar6n de rio; Langostino de rio
Size: This is a very large shrimp, growing to 230 mm (over 9 inches).
84
Distribution: The painted river prawn is a fresh water shrimp which spends its early life in salt or brackish water. It is found in rivers of the Atlantic coast from Florida to Southeast Brazil.
Comments: This freshwater prawn is commercially important in the central part of its range from Mexico to Northeast Brazil. Because large sizes are rare, however, sales are seldom made outside local markets. Because the shrimp grows to such a large size the species is an attractive prospect for aquaculture and experiments have been conducted in a number of countries to see how the animal adapts to being farmed.
Common and Commercial Names: Bangladesh: Bharo chingri; Chooan chingri; Mota chingri; Shala chingri; scampi (incorrect, but sometimes exported to Europe and USA labelled as scampi)
Germany: Felsengarnele
Iceland: Risa ferskvatnsraeka
India and Bangladesh: Golda chingri; Mocha chingri
Size: One of the largest shrimp, reaching 320 mm (over 12.5 inches).
Distribution: Found naturally throughout the Indo-West Pacific from Pakistan and Northwest India throughout the entire Malay archipelago, including the Philippines, to New Guinea and Northern Australia. The river prawn lives in fresh and brackish water, sometimes even in marine environments. Note that the map shows the original natural distribution of the species, which is now farmed in many freshwater areas around the world.
86
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
".
Comments: This the "freshwater shrimp" exported frozen to all the major consuming countries, especially the USA and Western Europe, where its large size and comparatively low price makes it a popular item. Freshwater shrimp is large and reasonably flavored. They can be baked or broiled, but do not respond well to boiling or steaming, which can bring out a muddy or slightly "off' flavor. Small numbers of the species are shipped and sold live.
The species is of enormous commercial importance in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, and significant in many other countries in the region. It is a major seafood export item from most of these countries.
'fraditionally cultivated in ponds in the Malay islands, the species is now actively farmed in many countries throughout the world. It is one of the prime aquaculture species, since it can be raised in freshwater ponds, so carefully tended marine environments are not needed.
Common and Commercial Names: Hong Kong: Chat mai ha; Red rice prawn
Japan: Aka ebi
Taiwan: Fired prawn; Dog prawn; Big hardshell prawn
Size: The whiskered shrimp grows to about 108 mm (3.8 inches).
Distribution: An important species in Japan's Inland Sea, the red rice prawn is also caught in Thailand, Malaysia and the Malay Archipelago, China and Taiwan.
88
Pacific Q Ocean
tP
~:P~"'~d_-
0~ It lives mainly on muddy bottoms,
though is sometimes caught in rocky areas also. It prefers shallow water between 20 and 70 meters (65 to 230 feet).
Comments: The species is better known as the red rice shrimp and is commercially important in the Inland Sea of Japan, in Taiwan and in other parts of Asia. It has a hard shell, which reduces its value compared with similar pink shrimp for peeling, but has good flavor and is in most places available year round, with the main fishing season in the summer and early autumn.
.- -M Lapenaeopsis l)(l riJa la
long, horizontal rostrum
- ----
3 pairs of movable spines on tel son plus 1 pair of fixed spines
Common and Commercial Names: Hong King: Chung ha; Middle prawn
India: Jinga shrimp, Kazhantan chemeen, Chingri
Japan: Yoshiebi-zoku
Size: This is a medium size shrimp, growing usually to 170 mm (about 6.7 inches), though some specimens up to 220 mm (8.7 inches) have been noted.
Distribution: A marine species found on muddy bottoms in shallow water down to 92 meters (about 300 feet).
90
Indian Ocean
It's territory is the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean from the Arabian Sea through the Malay archipelago to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Comments: The jinga shrimp is the main species known to world trade as "Indian brown" shrimp. It is of major commercial importance in Pakistan, the west and southeast coasts of India, both coasts of Malaya, and in Hong Kong. It is very similar to M. moyebi, the moyebi shrimp, which is also called "middle prawn" in Chinese. It is also very similar to M. ens is , the greasy back shrimp. In Malaysia, jinga shrimp is cultured in ponds. It is a firm, good tasting shrimp, versatile in use.
Common and Commercial Names: Bangladesh: Koraney chingri; Honye chingri; Kucho chingri; Saga chingri
Burma: Sandar-pazun
Cambodia: Bangkear kreum
Hong Kong: Sha ha
India: Dhanbone chingri
Indonesia: Udang tjendana; Udang baratan; Udang bajam
Japan: Yoshiebi-zoku
Singapore: Udang kuning; Yellow prawn
Thailand: Kung lee
Size: A small shrimp, it grows to 130 mm, sometimes to 150 mm (5 to 6 inches). Whole shrimp run 45 to 50 per kilo (about 20 per pound).
92
Indian Ocean
Distribution: Distributed in the IndoWest Pacific region from Pakistan to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, the yellow shrimp is found in sea water down to about 90 meters (about 300 feet). It is sometimes found also in brackish water and even in nearly fresh water.
Comments: The yellow shrimp is fast growing, reaching close to full size in only three to four months. It is important in Pakistan and Northwest India, where it is exported as peeled frozen shrimp and where it is also canned. Similar use is made of the species in Thailand and Malaysia.
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Endeavour prawn; Brown prawn (name used in Queensland); Blue tail endeavour prawn; Blue endeavour prawn
Size: A fairly large shrimp, reaching 190 mm (7.5 inches).
Distribution: This shrimp is found only in Australian waters, from Shark Bay in Western Australia around the northern coast eastwards to northern areas of New South Wales. A marine
94
Indian Ocean
QrP
~d;:~,~. ~ ..
-0 'V t>
species, it prefers depths between 44 and 48 meters (about 145 to 160 feet) and mud and sandy mud bottoms. Juveniles are estuarine.
Comments: This is a brown shrimp, very similar to M. ens is , the greasyback shrimp, which is also called "endeavour prawn" in Australia. It is an important species in Northern Australia, often caught with various tiger shrimp species.
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Endeavour prawn; Offshore greasyback prawn; Red endeavour prawn
Burma: Pazun-baw-gyait
Cambodia: Bangkear kreum
Hong Kong: Chung ha; Middle prawn
Indonesia: Udang laki; Udang dogol; U dang apiapi; U dang gof go dot
Japan: Yosi ebi; Yoshi ebi
Philippines: Ripon suahe
Taiwan: Sand shrimp
Thailand: Kung takard (kung ta kart)
Viet Nam: Tom dat
Size: The greasyback shrimp grows to about 160 mm (5.6 inches). It is usually harvested in aquaculture operations when it is between 60 and 100 mm (2.1 to 3.5 inches).
Distribution: A widely distributed species in the Indo-West Pacific region from Sri Lanka and the Malay Peninsula to Southeast China, Japan, through the en:tire Malay archipelago and in western, northern and eastern Australia from Shark Bay in the west
96
fndian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
to central New South Wales in the east at about latitude 35° S. It lives in shallow water down to 64 meters (about 200 feet). It likes both estuarine and marine conditions and prefers mud or sandy mud bottoms.
Comments: This is one of the most important commercial species of shrimp from the region. It is a significant part of the endeavour prawn catches in Northern Australia and is very important in Singapore and Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is one of the more important species traditionally cultured in ponds in Malaysia, as well as in Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines.
Smaller sizes are peeled, larger sizes may be frozen as raw tails. This is a brown or reddish-brown shrimp. The Taiwanese name "sand shrimp" indicates its color. The greasyback is a high quality and high price shrimp.
Some Australian scientists regard this shrimp as the same species as M. monoceros, the speckled shrimp.
Common and Commercial Names: Bangladesh: Honye chingri; Karkaria chingri; Karaney chingri; Kucho chingri; Lallia chingri
East Africa (Swahili): Kamba; Kamba ndogo.(N ote that Kamba is used generally for large shrimp; kamba ndogo for small shrimp species)
India (Calcutta): Koraney chingri; Honye chingri
Japan: Yoshiebi
Madagascar: Patsanarana (name also used for other species)
South Africa: Ginger prawn
Size: It grows to 195 mm (7.7 inches).
Distribution: The speckled shrimp has extended its range. It was originally found in the Indo-West Pacific from Durban north along the African coast to the Red Sea and around India to the Bay of Bengal. N ow it has migrated through the Suez Canal into the Eastern Mediterranean
98
Indian Ocean
as well. Living in shallow water down to 60 meters (200 feet), mostly between 10 and 30 meters (about 30 to 100 feet), the species prefers sandy mud bottoms and brackish to marine salinities as low as 5 and up to 30 parts per thousand.
Comments: Known in English variously as pink shrimp, brown shrimp and ginger prawn as well as speckled shrimp, the species has commercial value throughout its range. It is actually a brown shrimp. It is important in Mozambique, caught in Kenya and Tanzania and one of the dominant species of Madagascar. It is also important in Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the southern part of the Red Sea, as well as in most parts of India (especially Kerala and the Ganges Delta) and Pakistan. It is cultivated in rice fields in Bangladesh and India.
It is also now trawled in the Eastern Mediterranean off the southern coast of Thrkey, on the continental shelf off Israel, and off Alexandria, Egypt.
Common and Commercial Names: Hong Kong: Chung ha; Middle prawn (name also used for other species)
Japan: Mo ebi; Yoshiebi-zoku
Size: This is a small shrimp, reaching only 97 mm (3.8 inches).
Distribution: This is an Indo-West Pacific species found from Southern India and Sri Lanka through the Malay archipelago and Northern Queensland
100
Indian Ocean
to Japan. It lives in both marine and brackish waters, between depths of 5.5 and 45 meters (about 18 to 150 feet), and likes muddy bottoms.
Comments: Similar to and often confused with M affinis and M. mastersii this small shrimp is cultivated in ponds in Malaya and Singapore and is trawled in Japan's Inland Sea. Some commercial catches are also made in the Philippines. The moyebi is one of the many small shrimp used for peeling.
Size: This small shrimp reaches 70 mm (2.75 inches).
Distribution: Found in sea and brackish water to depths of only 17 meters (about 55 feet) around the
102
Indian Ocean
coasts of India, Burma and the Philippines.
Comments: There is an important fishery for this little shrimp in the Ganges delta and around Bombay. The shrimp are sold generally on local markets. In Luzon, it is dried and sold to other parts of the Philippines.
Nematopalaemon tenuipes
long, slender rostrum segments rounded , without spines
Common and Commercial Names: Denmark: Roskildereje
Finland: Levakatkarapu
France: Bouquet balte
Germany: Ostseegarnele
Italy: Gambaretto
Japan: Sujiebi-zoku
Norway: Strandreke
Romania: Garida
Spain: Camar6n baltico
Sweden: Raka, Allman raka,
Size: The Baltic prawn grows to only about 80 mm Gust over three inches).
Distribution: Distributed through the eastern Atlantic from the Baltic, southern Norway and the British Isles to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Also found in the Caspian Sea.
104
Nonh Atlantlc Ocean
Lives in shallow brackish or salt water in mud and algae, at depths usually less than ten meters (about 32 feet).
Comments: This shrimp is taken along most of the northern part of its range as a casual catch mixed with other small shrimp. Economically it is more important in parts of the Mediterranean, including Italy and Morocco. It is of particular importance in the Black Sea, where Bulgaria reports substantial landings.
This is one of a large number of species of small shrimp which are often caught and sold together. Differences between these species are small and not important for commercial purposes. In particular, the Baltic prawn is very similar to P elegans, the rockpool prawn.
Palaemon adspersus
black chromatophores
long fingers on claws
105
Palaemon elegans Family: Palaemonidae
EA.O. Names: English: Rockpool prawn French: Bouquetflaque Spanish: Camar6n de poza
Common and Commercial Names: Denmark: Strandreje
Germany: Steingarnele
Italy: Gambaretto
Norway: Strandreke
Romania: Creveta; Garida de piatra
Sweden: Tangraka
United Kingdon: Prawn; White prawn
Size: It reaches only about 60 mm (2.4 inches).
106
Distribution: As the name suggests, this marine shrimp is found in rock pools and shallow waters along beaches. It inhabits the shores of the Eastern Atlantic from western Norway and Sweden to Southwest Africa, and the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas.
Comments: This is a very small shrimp, listed as important in the Black Sea and part of the Mediterranean, especially Greece. However, it is difficult to distinguish this shrimp fromP adspersus, the Baltic prawn, and these and other species are handled together when caught.
Italy: Gambero sega; Gambarello; Gambero delle rocce; Gamberetto; Palemone
Japan: Sujiebi-zoku
Malta: Gamblu qsajjar
Netherlands: Steurgarnaal
Norway: Gruntvannsreke; Strandreke
Portugal: Camarao-do-rio
Spain: Camar6n ( official name); Quisquilla; Gamba
Sweden: Tangraka
United Kingdom: Common prawn
Size: It reaches 110 mm ( 4.3 inches).
108
North Atlantic Ocean
Distribution: A marine shrimp living in shallow water down to about 40 meters (130 feet) in the Eastern Atlantic from Denmark south to Mauretania in west Africa, as well as in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. It lives over rocks as well as on muddy bottoms.
Comments: This is Europe's highly esteemed native pink shrimp. It is rare and high-priced in England, a little less rare but still high priced in Spain, Italy, France and Portugal Catches are also recorded in Algeria and Tunisia.
The shrimp is sweet, firm and particularly good eating. Although most are sold fresh, cooked and peeled and raw peeled frozen tails are also offered.
Palaemon serratus
7 -11 teeth on top elongated rostrum, often bent up at tip
long fingers
4-6 teeth on underside of rostrum
109
Pandalopsis dispar Family: Pandalidae
EA.O. Names: English: Sidestripe shrimp French: Crevette a flancs rayes Spanish: Camar6n de banda
Common and Commercial Names: Canada: Giant red shrimp; Side-stripe shrimp
Japan: Morotogeakaebi-zoku
U.S.A.: Side-stripe shrimp
Size: The sidestripe shrimp grows as large as 200 mm (nearly 8 inches).
Distribution: This marine species lives in the Eastern Pacific from Alaska to Oregon on bottoms of green mud. Its depth range extends from 38 to 630 meters (125 to 2060 feet) but it
110
North Pacific Ocean
is fished generally between 80 and 150 meters (about 260 to 500 feet).
Comments: One of the less important species of the region, it is nevertheless highly regarded for its eating qualities. It is possible that opening up new areas for the fishery could greatly expand landings. Side-stripes are sold whole, as well as cooked and peeled. The deep pink, almost red, color is attractive and the texture and taste of the species is very good.
Size: Northern shrimp grow to 165 mm (6.5 inches).
Distribution: The northern shrimp is found in most northern waters. In the
112
northern Atlantic its range is from Greenland south to Martha's Vineyard on the western side; and from N ovaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and Spitsbergen south to Europe including Britain. The northern Pacific range in the east is from the Bering Sea and part of the Chukchi Sea south along the North American coast to Oregon (some specimens have been found as far south as San Diego). In the western Pacific it is found as far south as Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan, and South Korea to the latitude 35° 30' N. The greatest concentrations of the species are off southern and western Scandinavia, western Greenland, the Gulf of Maine and in the north east Pacific to Oregon and Washington.
The Pacific shrimp is sometimes regarded as a sub-species, P borealis eous but for all commercial purposes the Atlantic and Pacific versions are identical.
Northern shrimp prefer clay and mud bottoms in sea water at depths between 20 and 1380 meters (65 to 4,500 feet).
Pandalus borealis
rostrum as long as carapace
Comments: With the possible exception of Crangon crangon, the common shrimp, this is the most important coldwater shrimp in world commerce. Valuable catches are recorded from the Pacific in Kodiak, Alaska, U.S.A., in Canada and in Korea. Atlantic catches are primarily landed in Norway and Greenland, but many other countries also participate in the fishery.
It has very sweet and firm meat and an attractive pink color. It is sometimes sold as pink cocktail
small spine
1Ia---small spine
~'--___ red, star-like spots
shrimp. The color of both raw and cooked shrimp is similar. Sold whole raw, whole cooked and also cooked and peeled, northern shrimp catches fluctuate very widely from season to season and place to place. The fishery has expanded in Europe, with Iceland, Norway and Greenland competing for markets in Europe and North America. The average size of the shrimp offered for sale is between 40 and 55 per pound (88 to 120 per kilo) whole cooked and 250-350 per pound (550 to 770 per kilo) cooked and peeled.
113
Pandalus hypsinotus Family: Pandalidae
EA.O. Names: English: Coonstripe shrimp French: Crevette a front raye Spanish: Camar6n malacho
Common and Commercial Names: Canada: Humpback shrimp; King shrimp
Japan: Toyama-ebi; Taraba-ebi; Botan-ebi
U.S.A.: Coon-stripe shrimp; Humpback shrimp
Size: One of the larger cold-water species, the coonstripe reaches 209 mm (8.2 inches).
Distribution: The coonstripe lives in the North Pacific from the Bering Sea south to Korea and Northern Japan in the west and to the state of Washington in the east. It is found at
114
North Pacific Ocean
depths between 5 and 400 meters (15 to 1300 feet).
Comments: The deep pink coonstripe, also known to science as P gracilis, is the major prawn caught off Korea. It is much less important on the eastern side of the Pacific. Some landings are made in British Columbia, but generally the shrimp is a by-catch throughout its range on the eastern side. It is similar in eating quality to the more abundant cold water species such as P borealis, the northern shrimp, and P jordani, the ocean shrimp.
P danae, not covered in this book is also known as coon-stripe. This species is as large as P hypsinotus, with tails sometimes reaching 25/30 per pound.
Common and Commercial Names: Canada: Smooth pink shrimp; Pink shrimp
Japan: Tarabagani-zoku
U.S.A.: Smooth pink shrimp; Pink shrimp; Ocean pink shrimp; Ocean shrimp (official name in state of California) .
Size: This is a small shrimp, reaching about 160 mm (6.3 inches).
Distribution: The ocean shrimp is found in the Eastern Pacific from Queen Charlotte Sound in Alaska to San Diego, California. It likes a marine environment with a sand, mud or
116
North Pacific Ocean
green mud bottom. It lives at depths between 36 and 457 meters (118 to 1500 feet) and is fished generally between 73 and 237 meters (240 to 750 feet).
Comments: Catches of ocean shrimp vary widely from season to season. It is an important fishery in British Columbia, where it is sold whole as well as cooked and peeled. It is also intermittently important along the USA coast, especially in California and Oregon. The shrimp is pink when raw and slightly darker pink when cooked and has a fine flavor and texture similar to the other Pacific pandalid shrimp species.
Distribution: The species has a restricted range from Southeastern Siberia) Korea, Sakhalin through the Kurile Islands to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. It is a marine shrimp living mainly in shallow water to depths of 9 meters (30 feet)
118
Nonh o Pacific I~Ocean
~c>~.~
CJ "
although there are records of the species being found as deep as 300 meters (984 feet). The species was introduced into the Black Sea about 1959.
Comments: Hokkai shrimp, as the name suggests, is important in northern Japan. It is particularly important in North and South Korea. The Japanese name is also applied to Pandalus platyceras, the spot shrimp.
Size: The aesop shrimp grows to about 160 mm (6.3 inches).
Distribution: This is a species of the Northern Atlantic, from the Arctic
120
North Atlantic Ocean
Ocean south to Nova Scotia and Maine in the west and to the southern North Sea in the east. A marine species, it is found at depths all the way from 4 to 700 meters (13 to 2,300 feet). Most of the fishery is carried out in water between 20 and 100 meters (about 65 to 330 feet). It prefers hard bottom such as gravel or rock and is sometimes also found on sandy mud.
Comments: Only the United Kingdom catches this small, pink shrimp commercially, and it is not of major importance even there. Small quantities are landed throughout its range, usually mixed with other pandalid species. It is thought that there is some commercial potential for the species on the east coast of Canada.
The mostly small shrimp are generally sold whole, cooked. They have a sweet taste and are fairly soft.
Common and Commercial Names: Canada: Prawn; spot shrimp
Japan: Hokkai-ebi (name also applied to P kessleri); Tarabagani-zoku
U.S.A.: Spot shrimp
Size: It is larger than most of the other Pacific pandalid shrimp, reaching 253 mm (10 inches).
Distribution: The species inhabits the Northern Pacific from the Bering Straits to Japan and Korea in the west, to Southern California in the east. The spot is a marine shrimp which likes steeply sloping hard bottoms and
122
North Pacific Ocean
depths between 4 and 437 meters (between 13 and 1400 feet).
Comments: This pink prawn is an important fishery in British Columbia, where it is caught in traps. It is also caught in other parts of its range as an incidental catch with other shrimp species. Catching is mainly local. For example, the species is regularly landed in Morro Bay, California.
It is the largest shrimp of its type reaching ten inches overall length, giving 7/10 shell-on tails per pound. Distinctively well flavored and firm, the spot shrimp is highly regarded for its eating quality. In Canada, it is occasionally shipped in tanks and sold live.
Size: It reaches 180 mm (7 inches) though the majority of specimens are not over 135 mm (5.3 inches).
Distribution: The spear shrimp lives in the Indo-West Pacific region, from Pakistan around India and South-East Asia to China. A marine species, it
124
Indian Ocean
likes fairly shallow water to about 90 meters (300 feet).
Comments: Often confused with P sculptilis, the rainbow prawn, and sharing the same common name in many regions, this is a pinkish color shrimp which is a constituent of trawled catches in Pakistan, N orthWest India and the West coast of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula where it is an important species in the inshore fishery. It is also important in Taiwan, where it is fished between November and May.
rostrum tilted upwards. No teeth in front of carapace
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Rainbow prawn; Coral prawn
Bangladesh: Baga tara ichha; Bagtara chingri
Burma: Pazun-kyaung
Cambodia: Bangkear
Hong Kong: Hard spear prawn; chung ha
Japan: Chikugo-ebi
Pakistan: Kiddi (this name is applied to many species of similar size)
Philippines: Hipon buhangin
Size: The larger females grow to 170 mm (6.7 inches).
Distribution: The rainbow shrimp is an Indo-West Pacific species found in tropical waters from Pakistan around India to the Malay Peninsula, Hong
126
Indian Ocean
Kong and throughout the Malay archipelago to New Guinea and Northern Australia. It is a marine species, liking coarse sand and fine mud bottoms and depths down to 90 meters (295 feet). Most fishing is done in shallow water of no more than 16 meters (52 feet).
Comments: This shrimp has a large body and comparatively small tail, so that the yield is small, a feature which has discouraged commercial exploitation in Australia. In Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Malaysia it is a moderately important species, sold peeled and frozen or canned.
The four whitish bands on the shell are a distinguishing feature, separating pink and brown bands. However, the name of "rainbow shrimp" exaggerates the color variation of the species.
Common and Commercial Names: Japan: Subesubeebi-zoku
Pakistan: Kiddi shrimp. Note that this name is used for many species of similar size.
Size: This is a medium shrimp which does not exceed 145 mm (5.7 inches).
Distribution: This species is distributed from Kuwait around
128
Indian Ocean
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India to Bangladesh. It is a marine shrimp preferring depths of 20 to 90 meters (65 to 300 feet).
Comments: The kiddi shrimp is an important species in Pakistan and the west coast of India. It is used for peeling, with much of the catch exported frozen. It also has some commercial importance in Bangladesh.
Parapenaeopsis stylifera
long. strongly upcurved rostrum
rostrum and crest darker
129
Parapenaeus longirostris Family: Penaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Deep-water rose shrimp French: Crevette rose du large Spanish: Camar6n de altura
Common and Commercial Names: Algeria: Crevette rose
Egypt: Gambri agouz
Germany: Rosa Garnele
Greece: Garidaki
Israel: Bar-penon
Italy: Gambero bianco; Gambero rosa
Japan: Tsunonagasake-ebi
Morocco: Crevette de chalut
Portugal: Camanlo da costa
Senegal: Crevette des grands fonds; Petite crevette
Spain: Gamba (official Spanish name); Gamba de altura; Gamba blanca
Tunisia: Crevette rose; Gambri abiedh
Turkey: Karides
Yugoslavia: Kozica golema
Size: The deep-water rose shrimp grows to around 160 mm (6.3 inches).
130
North Allanllc Ocean
Distribution: This species is mainly found in the eastern Atlantic , from Portugal as far south as Angola, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. It is also found sparsely on the western side of the Atlantic from Massachusetts to French Guiana and in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. A marine shrimp preferring mud or muddy sand bottoms, it lives in depths from 150 to 400 meters (about 500 to 1300 feet).
Recent scientific studies indicate that the western Atlantic species is separate and should be called P politus.
Comments: This is the most important commercial species of the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, France and Italy. It is also quite common off the coasts of West Africa, especially around the Gulf of Guinea. It is exceptionally sweet and well-flavored and greatly prized by consumers in the countries where it is available, usually fresh and cooked whole.
3 well developed spines
Paraperweus longirostris
red teeth on rostrum carapace covered with very short and hardly visible hairs
U.S.A.: Brown shrimp; Redtail shrimp; Native shrimp; Brownie
Size: Males grow to 195 mm, females to 236 mm (7.6 and 9.3 inches respectively) .
Distribution: A major north American species, ranging from Massachusetts south along the U.S.A. coast and through the Gulf of Mexico to Campeche. It is a marine shrimp when adult, with marine and estuarine juveniles. It lives in depths from 4 to 160 meters (13 to 525 feet), mostly in the range 27 to 54 meters (88 to 178 feet) . Bottom conditions may be mud or peat, often with sand, clay or broken shells.
132
Atlantic Ocean
Comments: This is the Gulf (U.S.A. and Mexico) brown shrimp and one of the world's most important commercial species. In 1984, nearly 62 million pounds were landed in the U.S.A. alone. It is the most important penaeid shrimp in North Carolina, but Texas is the major producing area.
The taste is rather bland, the meat texture firm. American consumers have a slight preference for white shrimp, but the brown sells readily in huge quantities at prices only slightly under those of equivalently processed whites.
Gulf brown shrimp and white shrimp both vary considerably in color, so that it is often not possible to tell them apart by the color of the shell when the shrimp is caught. Fishermen look for a groove in the last segment of the tail. Brown shrimp have the groove, which is wide enough to take a thumbnail. White shrimp do not have this groove.
Penaeus aztecus
long crest and grooves
broad groove
spines
133
Penaeus brasiliensis Family: Penaeidae
F.A.O. Names: English: Redspotted shrimp French: Crevette royale rose Spanish: Camar6n rosado con manchas
Common and Commercial Names: Brazil: Camanlo rosa; Camarao lixo
Cuba: Camar6n rojo
Japan: Pinku supottedo shurinpu
Nicaragua: Camar6n rojo
U.S.A.: Pink spotted shrimp; Spotted pink shrimp; Brown shrimp; Caribbean brown shrimp
Venezuela: Langostino rosado con manchas; Camar6n rosado con manchas; Langostino amarillo
Size: The redspotted shrimp grows to 191 mm (7.5 inches).
Distribution: This is a Western Atlantic species, ranging from North Carolina to Rio Grande do SuI in Brazil, and also found in Bermuda and
134
NOr1h Allantlc Ocean
Soulh AUanhc Ocean
the West Indies. It is found in water as deep as 365 meters (1,200 feet) but its usual habitat is between 45 and 65 meters (150 to 215 feet), on mud or mud and sand bottoms. The juveniles need estuarine conditions, the adults are marine animals.
Comments: This shrimp, which is a pinkish brown rather than a true pink, is important in the Guianas and northern Brazil. It is also caught further south in the area around Rio de Janeiro. It is a good penaeid shrimp, reasonably firm in texture and mild tasting.
Redspotted shrimp is very similar to northern pink, P duorarum. Differences are mainly in the shapes of the genitals. Commercially, the two species are identical.
Penaeus brasiliensis
crest extends to rear of carapace grooves alongside
spot present in S. American specimens, generally absent in N. America
Size: This brown shrimp grows to about 210 mm (8.3 inches).
Distribution: An Eastern Pacific species ranging from California to Paita in northern Peru, living at depths of 15 to 100 meters (50 to 330 feet) but
136
Pacit,c Ocean
found mostly between 25 and 50 meters (80 to 160 feet). It is a marine shrimp which prefers bottoms of mud or sandy mud.
Comments: The yellowleg shrimp, invariably called Mexican brown shrimp in the U.S.A., constitutes in some years three quarters of the Mexican Pacific catch. It is exported to Japan in large quantities as well as to the U.S.A. and other foreign markets. Japanese consumers like the species because it has a reddish color when cooked. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador all have significant landings of the species, which is a good quality eating shrimp.
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Striped prawn
Japan: Kurumaebi-zoku
Norway: Hestereke
Taiwan: Striped prawn
Size: The witch prawn reaches 145 mm (5.7 inches) .
Distribution: The witch prawn is widely but not densely distributed through the Indo-West Pacific region from Southeast Africa to Taiwan, including the Malay archipelago and in Polynesia. It is also found in the Torres Strait off Queensland. A marine
138
Indian Ocean
species, it prefers depths of 33 to 46 meters (l00 to 150 feet).
Comments: This small shrimp is closely related to P japonicus, the kuruma prawn, and very similar to several other penaeid species. The main difference is that the witch prawn lacks the movable spines alongside the telson. It is usually caught with one or more of these other species and not necessarily identified separately. Consequently, information on its commercial importance is difficult to assess. Records indicate that it is fished in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and New Guinea.
Common and Commercial Names: Hong Kong: Fleshy prawn
Japan: Taishoebi, Kouraiebi
Size: It reaches 183 mm (7.2 inches).
Distribution: This is a marine shrimp living at depths of 90 to 180 meters (300 to 600 feet) in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and Korean Bight.
Comments: This is a white shrimp, important in its limited area. In some years it has represented 20 percent of Chinese production. It is marketed in China, Korea and Hong Kong and is exported in large quantities, frozen, to Japan and to Western Europe. It is now pond-raised on a large scale in China and is being considered for aquaculture in Taiwan and Japan also.
The shell-on tails are considered to be equal in quality with Mexican,
140
North PacIfic Ocean
Ecuadorean and U.S.A. white shrimp. China labels the best quality "Seaswallow;' the second quality "Billow" and leaves poorer shrimp unbranded. New brands are being used for the cultured versions of the shrimp. Peeled shrimp is less successful, partly because of the use of liquid soy and polyphosphate dips which sometimes leave the surface protein soft and grainy.
This species carries its eggs externally and the fall season catch, shipped in November ,and December, has large amounts of roe-on shrimp. These are not liked in the U.S.A. but find a ready market in Europe. The spring season shrimp are roe free and these can be marketed in the U.S.A.
The species is better known as P orientalis but was first described in the scientific literature as long ago as 1765 as P chinensis which is therefore regarded as the correct scientific name and is the one used here. However, P orientalis is the name more commonly seen.
somewhat translucent body
telson shorter than segment 6. No lateral spines
Perweus chinensis
narrow, horizontal rostrum
141
Penaeus duorarum Family: Penaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Northern pink shrimp French: Crevette rose du nord Spanish: Camar6n rosado norteno
Common and Commercial Names: Japan: Kurumaebi-zoku
Mexico: Camar6n rosado
Spain: Camar6n rosado norteno
United Kingdom: Northern pink shrimp; Gulf pink shrimp
Size: The northern pink shrimp reaches 280 mm (11 inches).
Distribution: The pink shrimp is found in the Western Atlantic from Maryland to Texas and along the whole east coast of Mexico from Tamaulipas to Quintana Roo. The juveniles prefer brackish conditions, the adults are marine shrimp. Their depth range is 2 to 70 meters (6 to 230 feet) with occasional specimens being found as deep as 230 meters (750 feet). However, most of the catches are made at night in water between 11 and 36 meters (35 to 120 feet) on bottom of firm mud and silt, often with sand and shells.
142
North Atlamie Ocean
Comments: This is a major commercial species in the U.sA. and Mexico. It is fished especially in the Tortugas area of the Florida Keys, where catches in past years have been as high as 10 million pounds. The area produces shrimp of about 40/50 count per pound for most of the year, with the smallest shrimp being landed in March and April and the largest, at about 21130 count, in December and January. The species is also of great importance to Mexico, especially on the Campeche banks.
The pink shrimp is sweet and tender, with possibly better flavor than the Gulf white. Most are now sold frozen, raw headless. Although there used to be substantial trade from Mexico into the U.S.A. of peeled and deveined, I.Q.F pinks, this product has declined because of lack of suitable processing facilities.
Note that P notialis, the southern
Penaeu duorarum
pink shrimp, is now considered a separate species. Until 1939, both shrimp were treated as the same animal. Obviously, they are very similar. From a commercial point of view there is no discernible difference.
Both are also very similar to P lYrasiliensis, the red-spotted shrimp, which is slightly browner in color. In fact, scientists have to examine the genitals to be certain which of the three species they have.
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Brown tiger prawn; Tiger prawn; Common tiger prawn
Japan: Kurumaebi-zoku
Size: The brown tiger reaches 235 mm (9.3 inches).
Distribution: This species is found exclusively in Australian waters, from Shark Bay in Western Australia northwards around the Australian coast to New South Wales. It lives in depths as much as 200 meters (650 feet) but is generally trawled over
144
IndIan Ocean
Q~ PacIfic Ocean
{}~"" ~ .~ ..
~ ~~
muddy or sandy bottoms in water between 10 and 20 meters (30 to 65 feet). Juveniles prefer estuaries, but the adults are marine shrimp from tropical and sub-tropical waters.
Comments: The species is used commercially throughout its range. It is fished year-round and is generally caught with other tiger shrimp, especially the green tiger (P semisulcatus). Brown and green tigers are not distinguished by processors or by buyers but are packed and sold together.
-- -------~-------------
Penaeus esculentus
ridge without groove
----
transverse bands
generally 2 bands per segment
145
Penaeus indicus Family: Penaeidae
F.A.O. Names: English: Indian white prawn French: Crevette royale blanche Spanish: Camar6n blanco de la India
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Banana prawn; Indian banana prawn; Red-legged banana prawn
India: Jinga; N aran; Chapda chingri; Vella cherne en
Indonesia: Udang putih
Japan: Indo-ebi
Kenya: White prawn; Kamba weupe
Madagascar: Makamba; Patsa
Pakistan: Jaira; Jiaro
Philippines: Hipon putih
South Africa: White prawn; Tugela prawn
Thailand: King lai nam ngern
U.S.A.: Indian white shrimp
Vietnam: Torn bac can
Size: The Indian white grows to 228 mm (nearly 9 inches).
146
In<han Ocean
Distribution: This important species is found in the Indo-West Pacific from East and Southeast Africa, through Malaysia and Indonesia to South China and Northern Australia. It is a marine shrimp (with estuarine juveniles) which likes mud or sandy mud at depths of 2 to 90 meters (6 to 300 feet).
Comments: This is one of the major commercial species of the world. It is the most important shrimp caught off the East African coast, and is probably also the most important Indian commercial species, especially for the inshore fisheries and for rice field culture in Kerala. It is important in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. A large population was discovered fairly recently in Northwest Australia.
Similar to P merguensis, the banana prawn, and P penicillatus, the red-tail prawn, the Indian white varies in color from almost transparently colorless to bright yellow. It is a good quality, well-
Perweus indicus
low rostral crest
flavored shrimp, popular with importers in Japan, Western Europe and the U.S.A. Heavy fishing in India has reduced the average size caught, from 15-30 count per pound in the late 1970s to 31-110 per pound by the mid-1980s.
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Japanese king prawn; Tiger prawn
Burma: Japan pazun; Thae pazun
Hong Kong: Flower prawn; Fa ha
Japan: Kuruma-ebi; Saimaki-ebi Uuveniles only)
Kenya: Tiger prawn; Kamba; Kamba ndogo (these two Swahili names used for all penaeid species. Kamba is used for larger shrimp; Kamba ndogo for smaller ones)
Korea: Oriental brown shrimp
Pakistan: Kalri (also used for other species of similar size)
Philippines: Ripon buti
South Africa: Ginger prawn
Taiwan: Banded prawn
Vietnam: Tom bac can
U.S.A.: Kuruma prawn
Size: The kuruma prawn grows to 225 mm (8.8 inches), occasionally to 300mm (10.6 inches).
148
Indian Ocean
Distribution: This is an important Indo-West Pacific species ranging widely from South Africa into the Red Sea through the entire Malay Archipelago to Korea, Japan and Northern Australia, where it is found in the Northern Territory, the Gulf of Carpentaria and North Queensland. The species has migrated through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean and is now caught off Southern Turkey. It is a marine shrimp, living on sandy mud and sand bottoms at depths up to 90 meters (about 300 feet).
Comments: This is the most important species in Japan and is a major species in the South China Sea. It provides regular catches in the Philippines and in East Africa and the quantities landed in the eastern Mediterranean appear to be increasing. It is highly regarded in Japan, where it is used head-on fresh as well as in more usual processed forms. This shrimp is very similar to P canaliculatus, the witch prawn.
United Kingdom: Triple-grooved shrimp; Caramote shrimp
West Africa: Tiger shrimp; Striped shrimp
Size: This is a large shrimp, reaching 225 mm (8.8 inches).
150
NOIth Atlantic Ocean
South Adantlc Ocean
Distribution: The caramote prawn is found from the South coast of England down the whole Eastern Atlantic seaboard as far south as Angola. It is also found throughout the Mediterranean Sea. It lives in shallow water, marine and estuarine, down to 40 meters (130 feet) on sandy mud bottoms.
Comments: The caramote is a large shrimp with excellent taste and texture. It is a prized species in Southern Europe and is fished throughout the Mediterranean. North African production is exported fresh and frozen to many countries in Europe. Spanish and Italian trawlers take the species off West Africa. It represents a large proportion of Italian landings of shrimp from the Mediterranean. Similar to a tiger shrimp in appearance, it has a good pink color when cooked. Spanish, French and Italian consumers are particularly fond of the sweet taste.
Perweus kerathurus
rostrum bent htly upward at tip srn:>nallv calcified. Many grooves
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Jumbo tiger prawn; giant tiger prawn; blue tiger prawn; leader prawn; panda prawn
Burma: Jar-pa~un; Pazun-kya
Cambodia: Bangkear
Germany: Barenschiffskielgarnele
Hong Kong: Ghost prawn; Gwai ha
India: Jinga (Bombay region); Kara chemmeen (Kerala); Yera (Madras); Bagda chingri (Calcutta)
Indonesia: Udang windu; Udang pant jet
Japan: Ushi-ebi
Kenya: Kamba; Kamba ndogo. (These Swahili words are used for all commercial penaeids. Kamba for large sizes, kamba ndogo for small sizes)
Pakistan: Kalri (word also used for other species)
Philippines: Sugpo; Jumbo tiger shrimp
South and East Africa: Tiger prawn
Taiwan: Grass shrimp
Thailand: Kung kula-dum
Vietnam: Tom su
152
Size: This is the largest commercially available shrimp, reaching 330 mm or more (13 inches).
Distribution: This major Indo-West Pacific species is distributed over a .
huge range from East and Southeast Africa, through the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, around the Indian subcontinent, and throughout the
Mala Ar hi la t rth rn
t
Comments: Giant tigers are traditionally important in the fisheries of most of the Asian countries where it is found, especially in India, Bangladesh and Malaysia. It is also of
continued on page 186
153
Penaeus latisulcatus Family: Penaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Western king prawn French: Crevette royale occidentale Spanish: Camar6n real
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: western king prawn; Bluelegged king prawn
Japan: Futomizo-ebi; Hutomizo-ebi
Thailand: Kung luang hangsipha
Size: The Western king prawn reaches 200 mm (7.9 inches) of which the tails constitute up to 140 mm (5.5 inches).
Distribution: A very widely distributed shrimp in the Indo-West Pacific region, the western king prawn is found from Southeast Africa north to the Red Sea, in the Arabian Gulf, around India, Southeast Asia and throughout the Malay archipelago to Japan and Korea and South to
154
Australia where it is found from South Australia all around the coast to northern New South Wales. Living on hard bottoms of sand, sandy mud or gravel, the species likes shallower marine water down to about 90 meters (about 300 feet).
Comments: This is a light-colored shrimp, popular in Japan as well as in Australia, which produces a large proportion of the total landings. This species is the most important one in the South Australian prawn fishery and is also very important in parts of Western Australia. Somalia, the Gulf of Aden, Taiwan, Thailand and the Arabian Gulf are other areas where catches are significant.
This shrimp is very similar to P japonicus, the kuruma prawn, and to P canaliculatus, the witch prawn.
Perweus latisulcatus
crest extends along no cross bands on most 01 carapace or abdomen
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Banana prawn; White prawn
Burma: Pazun-byu
Cambodia: Bangkear
Hong Kong: Pak ha; White prawn
Indonesia: Udang putih
Japan: Tenjikuebi; Bananaebi
Malaysia: Udang kaki merah; Udang paSlr
Pakistan: Jaira; Jiaro (both names used for other species also)
Philippines: Ripon buti (name also used for other species)
Thailand: Kung chaebauy
Size: The banana prawn reaches 240 mm (9.5 inches).
Distribution: This widely distributed and important Indo-West Pacific species lives in shallow water between 10 and 45 meters (30 to 150 feet) on muddy bottoms. Juveniles are estuarine, adults mostly marine. The species ranges from the Arabian Gulf and Pakistan through the Malay
156
Indian Ocean
Archipelago and South China Sea to Australia, where it is found from Western Australia's Shark Bay all the way around the north coast to northern New South Wales.
Comments: Commercially, this is one of the most important species of this large region. Similar to P indicus, the Indian white shrimp, and for commercial purposes effectively a white shrimp, the banana prawn is most important in Australia, especially in Queensland and increasingly important in Western Australia. It is the main species raised in pond culture in Thailand and is an important catch in Malaya and the Philippines. Indonesian production was over 66 million pounds in 1980, before a trawling ban took effect.
This is a good quality shrimp with firm meat and a fine flavor. Japan imports peeled, higher count banana prawns in large quantities.
Perweus merguiensis
smooth carapace, almost no ridges 6-9 teeth on top, up to 6 below rostrum
t-~r'!~~;..------- rostrum high and triangular
157
Penaeus notialis Family: Penaeidae
RA.O. Names: English: Southern pink shrimp French: Crevette rose du sud Spanish: Camar6n rosado sureflo
Venezuela: Langostino amarillo; Langostino rosado; Camar6n rosado sin mancha
Size: The southern pink shrimp reaches a length of about 190 mm (7.5 inches).
Distribution: The southern pink is found on both sides of the Atlantic. In the east it ranges from Mauritania to Angola along the African coast. In the
158
west, it is found in Cuba and the Virgin Islands and along the mainland of the continent from southern Mexico (Quintana Roo) south as far as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It likes depths from close inshore down to 50 meters (165 feet) and is sometimes found as deep as 100 meters (325 feet). The species prefers mud, sandy mud or sandy patches among rocks. The juveniles are estuarine, the adults strictly marine dwelling.
Comments: This species, together with the white shrimp P. schmitti, is the most important commercial shrimp of the Caribbean, Central America, Atlantic Venezuela and northern Brazil. It is a pink shrimp, sometimes called Brazil pink in the USA (where it is also known by the names of the many countries where it is caught and frozen for export to the USA). It is also important in West Africa, where it is fished inshore for local consumption and offshore by foreign trawlers for world markets.
The southern pink shrimp is a
Penaeus notiali s usually 9 teeth on top
wet, fairly firm shrimp with an attractive color both raw and oked. It oft n quickly if I ft in warm conditions for too long, but is excellent quality when properly handled and processed.
It is very similar to P duorarum and as recently as 1967 was regarded as a sub-species rather than as a separate species.
well developed groove on either side of keel
159
Penaeus occidentalis Family: Penaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Western white shrimp French: Crevette royale blanche (du Pacifique) Spanish: Camar6n blanco del Pacifico
Common and Commercial Names: Colombia: Camar6n blanco; Langostino
Ecuador: Camar6n blanco
Nicaragua: Camar6n blanco
Panama: Langostino
Peru: Camar6n blanco; Langostino
U.S.A.: Central American white shrimp
Size: The western white shrimp reaches 215 mm (8.5 inches).
Distribution: The species is found in the Eastern Pacific from southern Mexico off Chiapas south to Peru. It is
160
PacifiC Ocean
a marine shrimp, with an estuarine existence as a juvenile. Adults live in shallow water down to about 20 meters (65 feet) on soft mud bottoms.
Comments: This is one of the three major white tropical shrimp species of the West Coast of the Americas, the others being P vannamei, the whiteleg shrimp and P stylirostris, the blue shrimp. It is commercially important throughout its range, especially in Panama, EI Salvador, Colombia and Ecuador.
This is a slightly greyish or pinkyellow shrimp, with good flavor and texture. It turns pink when cooked. Frozen tails are highly regarded in the USA and other important markets and the species is heavily fished.
Common and Commercial Names: Hong Kong: Pak ha; White prawn
Japan: Kurumaebi-zoku
Pakistan: Jaira; Jiaro (these names are used for other, similar species also); white
Taiwan: Red-tailed prawn
Size: It reaches 212 mm (8.3 inches).
Distribution: The redtail prawn is an Indo-West Pacific species ranging from Pakistan in the west to Indonesia and Taiwan in the east. It is a marine shrimp found from the shoreline down to about 90 meters (295 feet).
Indian Ocean
Comments: Pakistan is the major supplier of this white shrimp. Smaller sizes are peeled, larger sizes processed as shell-on tails for export markets. Catches in other parts of its range are not very significant. However, the redtail is very similar to P indicus, the Indian white, so it is possible that data is confused. Like the Indian white, color varies from almost transparent to yellowish. The meat is good and firm and the species, if properly handled, is very good.
Penaeus orientalis Family: Penaeidae
162
See Penaeus chinensis. Although the "orientalis" name is in wider usage, the "chinensis" name is technically correct and is used in this book.
Penaeus penicillatus
h behind rostrum
short rostru covered with blac brown spots
no lateral spines
163
Penaeus plebejus Family: Penaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Eastern king prawn French: Crevette royale orientale Spanish: Camar6n real oriental
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Eastern king prawn; King prawn; Sand prawn
Japan: Kurumaebi-zoku
Size: The eastern king prawn is a large shrimp, the females growing to 300 mm (nearly 12 inches), although the males reach only 190 mm (7.5 inches).
Distribution: This species is found only on the east coast of Australia , from Lakes Entrance, Victoria to
164
Indian Ocean
North Reef, Queensland. The juveniles are estuarine, adults marine, living in depths to 220 meters (720 feet) though usually caught in shallower water. The species prefers sandy bottoms.
Comments: The species is caught in both juvenile and adult phases and is an important commercial resource for Australia, providing in some years over half the total catch in Queensland. It is fished mainly from January to August. A creamy or yellow color when raw, the shrimp is well flavored and firm.
ridges on rostrum
R Ila t. pi till. '
groove divides into three at back end dark brown on top
165
Penaeus schmitti Family: Penaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Southern white shrimp French: Crevette ligubam du sud Spanish: Camaron blanco surefto
U.S.A.: Brazil white; White shrimp; Blue shrimp; Green shrimp
Size: Southern whites reach a length of 235 mm. (9.25 inches).
Distribution: The southern white inhabits the western Atlantic from Cuba and the Virgin Islands through Central and South America to
166
Atlantic Ocean
southern Brazil (about 28° 24' S.). It is found from the shore down to about 47 meters (154 feet), though most catches are made between 15 and 30 meters (50 to 100 feet) over soft mud or silt. The adults are marine, the juveniles estuarine.
Comments: The species is very important commercially throughout its range. It is landed in large quantities and there is a ready export market for it in the USA, where it is commonly called "white shrimp" of whichever country of origin appears on the label. Brazil is a major producer. The species is very similar to P setijerus, the Gulf white and can only be distinguished by careful examination of the genitals. Distinctions in the market-place between the two species and between various origins of each are related more to efficiency and skill of handling and packing than to any intrinsic quality differences.
Australia: Grooved tiger prawn; Green tiger prawn; Northern tiger prawn
Cambodia: Bangkear
Hong Kong: Ka ha; Chuk ha; Flower prawn; Bamboo node prawn
Indonesia: Udang windu
Israel: Kastanie
Japan: Kumaebi
Kenya: Tiger prawn; Kamba (Swahili, large prawns of many species); Kamba ndogo (Swahili, smaller specimens of many species)
Malaysia: Udang harus
Pakistan: Kalri (also used for other species of similar size)
Philippines: Ripon windu
South Africa: Green prawn
Thailand: Kung kula lai
Vietnam: Tom c6
Size: Green tigers grow to about 228 mm (nearly 9 inches).
168
Indian Ocean
Distribution: The species is caught in trawls on sandy or muddy bottoms in depths down to 130 meters (426 feet). The juveniles are estuarine and the adults marine. It is found in many and widespread areas of the Indo-West Pacific, from East and Southeast Africa into the Red Sea, around the Indian subcontinent, through the Malay archipelago to Japan and Northern Australia. In recent years it has extended its range from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal into the eastern Mediterranean, where it is now fairly common.
Comments: This is a very important commercial species, often known as flower shrimp when sold from Taiwan and other Asian origins. It is fished in the Red Sea and the eastern Mediterranean as well as along the east coast of Africa. It is particularly important in Pakistan, which exports both frozen and canned green tigers in large quantities and where it is also used for making shrimp meal and shrimp paste. It is utilized to some small degree on the east coast of India
Perweus semisulcatus
teeth behind rostrum 5-8 teeth on top of rostrum
and is sometimes found in rice field farming in the Ganges delta. It is commercially important also in Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan. It is fished all year in Northern Australia, where it is not distinguished from P esculentus, the brown tiger in catches or in marketing.
In Taiwan and in Thailand the green tiger is used successfully in aquaculture.
This is a strongly marked shrimp, with noticeable transverse bands which fade after capture. It looks very similar to P mono don the giant tiger prawn. The meat is firm and fairly mild.
169
Penaeus setiferus Family: Penaeidae
EA.O. Names: English: Northern white shrimp French: Crevette ligubam du nord Spanish: Camar6n blanco norteno
Common and Commercial Names: Japan: Kurumaebi-zoku
Mexico: Camar6n blanco
U.S.A.: White shrimp; Gulf white shrimp; Grey shrimp; Lake shrimp; Green shrimp; Green-tailed shrimp; Blue-tailed shrimp; Rainbow shrimp; Daytona shrimp; Southern shrimp
Size: The species reaches about 200 mm (7.9 inches).
Distribution: The northern white shrimp can be found along the Atlantic coast of the U.S.A. from New Jersey to Florida and in the the whole of the Gulf of Mexico, along the coasts of the U.S.A. and Mexico. Few are found north of the Carolinas and most are landed from the Gulf of Mexico. The species prefers shallow water down to about 90 meters (nearly 300 feet) usually on mud or peat bottoms, sometimes on sand or clay. The juveniles of this marine species live in estuarine conditions.
170
, ". .... , ~ .... .. ,
Atlantic Ocean
Comments: This is one of the most important commercial shrimp species in the world. In the U.S.A., smaller shrimp, landed in the early part of the season during late winter and spring, have traditionally been canned, although increasing quantities are now peeled and frozen. Later in the season , when the shrimp have grown larger, sizes above about 50 count are landed with the heads snapped off. These are processed simply by grading and freezing as raw tails. Larger whites are caught on the east coast starting in July and along the Gulf coast of the U .SA. usually from August. The species grows at about one count size per week during the summer months. Some Mexican producers traditionally peeled and deveined larger sizes, selling them in LQ.F form as a premium product.
The species is very similar to P vannamei. The two can only be distinguished by the different shapes of the genitals. Because of the wide color variations in shrimp, it is
Penaeus setiferus
sometimes also difficult to tell browns (P. aztecus) from whites. The brown shrimp has a groove wide enough for a thumbnail in the last segment of the tail. Fishermen and processors use this simple test to determine which market variety they have. The Gulf white is the market standard for the U.S.A. and other species and
short grooves rostrum pinkish
imports are measured against it. This is not to say that it is the best, only that it is the most familiar and, perhaps, the most generally desired. The meat is sweet, firm and not strongly flavored. The color is pale greyish-pink to almost colorless, but cooked they have a uniform, pleasing pink tint.
Common and Commercial Names: Colombia: Camaron blanco
Costa Rica: Camaron blanco
Ecuador: Camaron blanco
Mexico: Camaron azul; Blue shrimp
Nicaragua: Camaron blanco
Panama: Camaron blanco
Peru: Camaron blanco
U.S.A.: West coast white shrimp; Mexican white shrimp
Size: The species reaches about 230 mm (9 inches).
Distribution: The blue shrimp is found in the eastern Pacific from Mexico's Baja California (Punta Abrejas) to Paita, Peru. It is a shallowwater marine shrimp, living at depths seldom greater than 27 meters (90 feet) on mud, sandy mud or mud with clay bottoms. The young generally live in estuaries.
172
Pacltlc Ocean
Comments: The Mexican white shrimp is the major species on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It is also very important in EI Salvador and Guatemala. In Honduras, the juveniles are fished inshore and peeled. Penaeus occidentalis, the western white shrimp, becomes more important further south as the resource of the blue shrimp diminishes.
The blue shrimp is excellent quality, with firm meat and good flavor. The traditionally high quality of processing and packing in Mexico, which supplies most of this species to world markets, has also enhanced its reputation and desirability. Similar to P vannamei the so-called whiteleg shrimp, the blue shrimp is also very important in aquaculture, as one of the species that has responded best to cultivation. The species is generally known simply as "white shrimp" when traded, usually with an accompanying geographical designation noting the origin.
Common and Commercial Names: Colombia: Camar6n blanco; Camar6n cafe
Costa Rica: Camar6n blanco
Ecuador: Camar6n blanco
Mexico: Camar6n blanco; White shrimp
Nicaragua: Camar6n blanco
Panama: Camar6n blanco
Peru: Camar6n blanco; Langostino
U.S.A.: West Coast white shrimp
Size: It grows to about 230 mm (9 inches).
Distribution: Distributed in the Eastern Pacific from Sonora, Mexico, south to Tumbes in northern Peru, this marine shrimp likes muddy bottoms at depths from the shoreline down to about 72 meters (235 feet).
174
PacIfic Ocean
Comments: A major commercial species in the Pacific states of southern Mexico and also important in Guatemala and EI Salvador, this species is a prime subject for aquaculture, especially in Ecuador.
It is difficult to distinguish this shrimp commercially from P stylirostris, the blue shrimp. It has similar appearance and meat quality. Because of its importance in aquaculture, it is becoming extremely well-known in international markets. Production in Ecuador and in other Central and South American countries has enormously expanded. The species is now a very important factor in world shrimp trade.
A note on the names: the FAO name whiteleg shrimp is scarcely, if ever, used in trading this species. It is more commonly known as "white shrimp" with whatever geographical designation applies from its origin.
Common and Commercial Names: Argentina: Langostino; Langostin
Brazil: Lagostinho de Argentina, Camanio de Santana; Camarao vermelho; Camarao ferro, Camarao barbado
Uruguay: Langostino; Langostin
U.S.A.: Argentine red shrimp; Argentine pink shrimp
Size: It reaches 190 mm (7.5 inches) with most specimens being closer to 100 mm (4 inches).
Distribution: The Argentine red shrimp is found in the south-west Atlantic from southern Brazil south along most of the coast of Argentina. Its range is between 20° S. and 48° S. with most being found in the narrow band between 41 ° and 44° S. A marine shrimp, it likes water between 33.27 and 33.94 parts per thousand, that is a little less than full ocean salinity. It prefers temperatures between 9°C. and 23°C. (48°F to 73°F). Its preferred depth is down to about 100 meters (325 feet) , but although it is generally thought of as a deep-water shrimp, many are caught in comparatively shallow water under 25 meters (82 feet).
176
South AUantlc Ocean
Comments: This is an important crustacean resource in Argentina. It is less important in Uruguay and Brazil. The largest concentrations are off southern Argentina. Because of the shrimp's rather restricted environmental requirements, and the variable temperatures and salinities of the South Atlantic, the resource is not reliable for fishing. Potential catch estimates as high as 79,000 metric tons are mentioned. However, in most years landings are a small fraction of this figure, partly because the shrimp move and are difficult to find, partly, perhaps, because the population is extremely variable. The shrimp grows quickly, reaching commercial size in about one year. Most catches are made between September and March.
It is often caught with the stilletto shrimp Artemesia longinaris which is smaller but has considerable commercial value.
The scientific name Hymnopenaeus miilleri has been used in the past for this species, which is still often referred to under that name. It is very
Pleoticus muelleri
teeth only on top of rostrum thick shell
similar to the royal red shrimp Pleoticus robustus, which is caught much further north, in the North Atlantic.
The Argentine red or Argentine pink, whichever it is called, is a particularly well-flavored species. However, the flesh is soft. Handling and processing must be done with great care. If the shrimp is not
pair of fixed lateral spines on telson
processed very quickly, it spoils and softens and also develops melanosis (black spot) . When used, it requires very light and gentle cooking, otherwise it shrinks unacceptably. If these conditions are met, it is an excellent shrimp with much better flavor than many higher-priced species.
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Pleoticus robustus Family: Solenoceridae
EA.O. Names: English: Royal red shrimp French: Salicoque royale rouge Spanish: Camar6n rojo real
Common and Commercial Names: Cuba: Camar6n real rojo
Mexico: Camar6n rojo gigante
U.S.A.: Royal red shrimp
Venezuela: Langostino rojo
Size: It grows to 225 mm (8.9 inches).
Distribution: The royal red shrimp is a Western Atlantic species found from south of Massachussets to French Guiana. It likes muddy or silt bottoms at depths of 245 to 730 meters (800 to 2,400 feet). A marine species, its preferred temperature range is 7°C. to 13°C. (45°F to 55° F).
178
AtlantiC Ocean
Comments: This is a deep water species with very sweet, but also rather soft, flesh. Because of the great depths where it lives, it is not much exploited, but fishing is done, irregularly, in the north-eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Dry Tortugas and also off northwest Florida. Development of technology to find and catch the species would no doubt lead to an increase in landings. Because of the soft flesh, the royal red shrimp needs swift and careful handling and light cooking. The flavor repays the effort that is required. Interest in the species in Florida is quite high. Landings are quickly sold for local and airfreight fresh shrimp markets.
The royal red is very similar to the Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) in appearance, taste and texture.
Pleoticus robustus
covered with short hair 10-12 teeth on top of rostrum
no teeth on un~d~er~S~id~e,--_:=~~;;==!!!!e:§~=I! of rostrum J:
Common and Commercial Names: Morocco: Crevette aux oeufs bleus
Tunisia: Gambri sghir
Spain: Carabinero
U.S.A.: Barber pole shrimp
Size: The striped soldier shrimp reaches about 166 mm (6.5 inches) in length.
Distribution: This species is found on both sides of the Atlantic. In the east, it lives in the Mediterranean (mainly the western half), on the Atlantic coasts of Spain and Portugal and around the coast of Africa as far south as Sierra Leone, with some
found as far south as Angola. In the west it ranges from South Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico. A marine shrimp, it likes muddy bottoms at depths between 180 and 680 meters (590 to 2,230 feet).
Comments: In Spain, Italy and North Africa the species is often caught and sold fresh with other pink shrimp, such as Parapenaeus longirostris, the deepwater rose shrimp. On the USA side of the Atlantic, it is not exploited at all. Research indicates there may be commercial quantities. The meat is sweet and a little soft. The shrimp is worth the effort of developing a commercial fishery, if that is indeed feasible.
Pie ionika edwardsi .
toothed throughout and all the way behind the eyes
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Scarlet prawn
France: Crevette imperiale; Crevette rouge geante
Germany: Rote Riesengarnele
Japan: Sukaretto-shurinpu
Morocco: Crevette royale
Spain: Carabinero ( official name); Langostino moruno; Chorizo rojo
Size: This is a large shrimp, with females growing to 350 mm (13.75 inches) and males to 200 mm (7.9 inches).
Distribution: The scarlet shrimp is found in the eastern Atlantic, though not in the Mediterranean from , Portugal south to South Africa. It is also found in the western Atlantic from the Grand Banks to the Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of South America. It has been reported from the east coast of New South Wales ,
182
Australia; from Southeast Africa and Madagascar; and from the Arabian Gulf. All reported quantities have been very small. It is a marine shrimp which likes muddy bottoms at depths of 275 to 1850 meters (900 to over 6,000 feet). Most are found between 400 and 900 meters (1,300 to 3,000 feet).
Comments: Spanish trawlers catch scarlet shrimp off West Africa and Southwest Africa. They are frozen whole for sale in Europe, mainly in Spain and France. In other areas where the species is reported, only very small quantities have been observed and in very small and limited areas. It is possible that these reports refer to other species.
The scarlet shrimp, as its name indicates, is very bright red. It has sweet, rather soft flesh, like many deep-water shrimp.
long , thin rostrum
second pair of maxillipeds
Plesiopenaeus edwardsianus
numerous ridges on carapace
183
Rhynchocinetes typus Family: Rhynchocinetidae
F.A.O. Names: English: Rabbitnose shrimp French: Saute des plages Spanish: Camar6n de playa
Common and Commercial Names: Chile: Camar6n de playa; Camar6n de mar
Peru: Camaroncito pintado
Size: The species grows to 87 mm long (3.4 inches).
Distribution: This is a small, marine shrimp found in coastal waters and in rockpools in Chile and Peru. It is
184
South Pacdic Ocean
seldom found deeper than 20 meters (65 feet).
Comments: The camar6n de playa used to be the most important commercial shrimp in Chile. However, this was in the 1940s and early 1950s. Currently, the shrimp is of minor importance.
hieroglyph pattern on segments
bands on tail fin and telson
Rhynchocinetes typus
movable rostrum
185
continuedfrom page 153
Penaeus mono don
7-8 teeth on top of rostrum
some importance in Queensland, Australia. Big increases in farmed output of giant tigers have transformed its market over recent years. Japanese consumers appreciate the comparatively low price and the U.S.A. market has been increasing rapidly.
The giant tiger turns bright red when cooked and the shell retains its color for several days when refrigerated after cooking. The flavor is good, the texture a little soft but definitely acceptable. Shell-on tails as well as peeled only and peeled and deveined tigers are now a substantial feature of the international shrimp trade.
Common and Commercial Names: Japan: Sakura ebi; the dried product is called Niboshi ebi
Size: It grows to only 48 mm (1.9 inches) in length.
Distribution: This is a planktonic shrimp, found only in the shallow waters of Tokyo, Sagami and Suruga bays in Japan.
no rostrum
North Pacific Ocean
Comments: The sakura shrimp is commercially important in Japan. It is also one of the few planktons used directly for human food. Catches have declined, but in 1969 were reported to average over 4,000 tons yearly. Sakura shrimp are boiled in seawater and dried, for both local consumption and export.
187
Sicyonia brevirostris Family: Sicyoniidae
RA.O. Names: English: Rock shrimp French: Boucot ovetgernade Spanish: Camar6n de piedra
Common and Commercial Names: Mexico: Camar6n de piedra
U.S.A.: Rock shrimp
Size: Rock shrimp may reach 153 mm (6 inches).
Distribution: The rock shrimp is found primarily in the western Atlantic from Virginia to Texas as well as off Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Small populations are also noted off Cuba, the Bahamas and in the eastern Pacific off the southern coast of Mexico. The species likes bottoms of white sand with broken shells and depths from shallow water down to about 180 meters (590 feet).
Comments: As the name implies, the rock shrimp has a very hard shell. It is this feature which has slowed market development. Shells have to be split with a cleaver or by machine. The shell is not only hard, it is also thick, so that yields of edible meat from the tails are low, perhaps 30 percent compared with over 50 percent for standard white and brown shrimp. Machinery to peel rock shrimp has been developed in the last few years and packers report that they can sell all they are able to produce.
188
North Atlanllc Ocean
Once peeled, the meat does not shrink much and is liked by processors. The flavor definitely repays the effort of extracting the meat. Often described as "lobster-like" the taste and texture of rock shrimp are certainly unique and extremely good. Because of the difficulty of peeling the shrimp, commercial sales are generally made in the form of split tails, or peeled meats. Split tails are preferred because the low yield makes the price rather high for peeled product.
Rock shrimp are harvested mainly in Florida, with small quantities landed also in Mexico. A closely related species, S. ingentis is being exploited on a small scale in California. Known locally as ridgeback prawn, it is an underutilized species found mainly between Monterrey in California and Cedros Island in Baja California, Mexico.
Common and Commercial Names: Australia: Hardback prawn; Southern rough prawn
Hong Kong: Sui lim har (name also used for other species of this family)
Japan: Saru ebi
Size: This is a small shrimp, growing to a maximum size of 100 mm (3.5 inches).
Distribution: This is a wide-ranging species found originally from the island of Madagascar and East Africa to the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, around the whole of Asia to China, Japan and the northern half of Australia. It has recently migrated through the Suez Canal and is now found also in the eastern
190
Mediterranean, where it has been reported from Turkey, Israel and Egypt.
It is a marine shrimp, preferring muddy sand bottoms and water between 13 and 150 meters (42 to 500 feet).
Comments: This small, pale pink shrimp is wide ranging and locally abundant. It is usually caught with other species and is not distinguished in records, so actual stocks cannot be estimated easily. It is fished in small quantities in Madagascar, in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Japan. It is one of the many species used for peeling. In Japan it is used for both human consumption and for bait.
TrachypenaeUs curvirostris
uptilted rostrum body covered with hair
191
Xiphopenaeus kroyeri Family: Perweidae
F.A.O. Names: English: Atlantic seabob French: Crevette seabob (de l'Atlantique) Spanish: Camar6n siete barbas
Common and Commercial Names: Brazil: Camarao chifrudo; Camarao sete barbas
Guyana: Coarse shrimp; Large prawn
Surinam: Redi sara-sara; Bigi sarasara
U.S.A.: Seabob
Venezuela: Camar6n blanco
Size: Seabobs reach 140 mm (5.5 inches), though most of those harvested are considerably smaller.
Distribution: Seabobs live in the western Atlantic from North Carolina U.S.A. south to Santa Catarina province in southern Brazil. They prefer brackish water near estuaries over mud or sand and shallow depths down to about 70 meters (230 feet).
192
,
They are occasionally found in rivers as well. Unusually, for shrimp, they spawn in deep water and return to estuaries as adults.
Comments: This is an important resource for the U.S.A.'s shrimp peeling and canning industries. Substantial quantities are landed along the Gulf of Mexico coasts of the U.S.A. It is also important through Central America and Northeast Brazil, and is caught as far south as Santa Catarina. In these countries, also, most of the catch that is not used 'locally is peeled and frozen for export.
Seabobs yield only about 35 percent meat when peeled and shrink more than many other species when cooked. They therefore require careful handling. The meat is grayish-white but the species is as well flavored as regular white or brown shrimp.
