Fisheries Re fIorts No. 57, VoL 4 FRm/R57.4 (Tri) PFOc: EINGS F THE WORLD SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON THE PIOLOGY AN CULTURE OF SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS ACTES D LA CONFERENCE SCIENTIFIQUE MONDIALE SUR LA BIOLOGIE ET L'ÉLEVAGE DES CREVETTES ACTAS DE LA CONFERENCIA CIENTIFICA MUNDIAL SOBRE OLOGIA Y CULTWO DE CAMARONES Y GAMBAS Mexico City, Mexico, 12-21 June 1967 Mexico (Mexique), 12-21 juin 1967 Ciudad de México, México, 12-21 junio 1967

j V

A FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS F4 0 ORGANISATION DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L'ALIMENTATION ET L'AGRICULTURE ORGANIZACION DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS PARA LA AGRICULTURA Y LA ALIMENTACION 47 ? ROME, 1970 1559 - FAO LIBRARY AN: 115088

FRm/S105 FAO Fisheries Synopsis No.105 SAST - Prawn

SYNOPSIS 0F BIOLOGICAL DATA ON THE PENAEID PRAWN t4etapenaous brevicornis (H. Mimo Edwards,1837)

Exposé synoptique sur la biologie de Metapenaous brovicornis (H. Mime Edwards, 1837)

Sinopsis sobre la biologia dei Metaponaeus brevicornis (H. Mimo Ndwards, 1837)

prepared by

M.J. GEORCE Contrai Marine Fisheries Research Institute Mandapam Camp, India

JPresent address, Indian Ocean Biological Centre, P.O. Box1913,Ernakulam, Cochin-l8, India 1561 -

FRIn/S105 M, brevicorniB

CON TENTS'

i IDENTIT!

1.1 Taxonomy

1.],l Definition 1,1.2 Description

1,2 Nomenolature

1.2.1 Valid scientific ilames 1,2.2 Synonyms 1.2.3Standard common naines, vernacular names

1.3 General variabili

1,3,1 Subspeoific fragmentation (races, varieties, hybrids 1.3,2 Genetic data (chromosone number, protein speoifioity

2 DISTRIBUTION

2.1 Delimitation of the total area of diotrtbuou and eco)g&ca. characteristization of this area

2,2 Differential distribution

2.2,1Areas occupied by eggs, larvae and other junior atagss annual variations in thèse patterns, and sesuonal variations for stages persisting over two or more coasons i 2,2,2Areas occupied by adult stages: seasonal and annual variations of these i

2,3Behaviouristio and ecolo ical determinants of the general limits of distribution and of the variaione ofhese limici and o differential distribution

BIONOMICS AND LIFE HISTORY 3x1

3.1 Reproduction 1

3,1,1 Sexual5 ermaphrocliiism, hoterosexua1it, intersexuality) 1 3,1.2 Maturity (age and size) 1 3.1.3 Mating (monogamous, polygamous, promiscuous) * 3.1.4Fertilisation (internal, external) 1 3,1.5 FecundityC 3,1,6 Spawning 1 3.1.7 Spawning grounds 1 3.1,8 Egg: structure, size, hatching type, parasites, and predators *

3,2 Larval history

3.2,1 Account of embryonic and juvenile life (prelarva, larva, poetlarva, juvenile)

i This synopsis has been prepared according to Outline Version No. 1H. Rosa Jr., FilO (i) Rev.l, 1965). -1562 - ii FRm/S105 M. brovioornis Page No, 3,3Adult hi8tory 3t1 Longevity 3,3.1 i Hardiness 3.3.2 i Competitors 3.3.3 i Predators 3.3.4 i 3.3.5 Parasites and diseases * Greatest size 3.3.6 i 3.4Nutrition and growth J. Feeding (timo, place,manner, season) 3.4.1 i Food (type, volume) 3.4.2 2 3,4.3Relative and absolute growth patterns and rates 2 3,4.4Relation of growth to feeding, to other aotivitiea and to environmental factors 2 Behaviour 3.5 2 3.5.1 Migration and local movements 3.5,2 Schooling * 2 3.5.3 Reproductive habits * 4 POPULATION(sTocK)

4.1 Structure

4.1.1 Sex ratio 4.1.2 Ago composition 4.13Size ccrnposition

4.2 Size and density *

4.2.1Average size 4,2.2 Changes in size 4.2,3Average density 4.2.4Changos in density 4.3Natality and. recruitment * 4.3.1Natality 4.3.2Natality rates

4.4Mortality, morbidity *

4.4.1Rates of mortality 4.4,2Factors or conditions affeotíng mortality 4.4,3Factors or conditions affecting morbidity 4.4.4Relation of morbidity to mortality rates 4.5Dynamics of population

4.6 Relation of population to community and ecoeystem bio1ogioa]production. etc,

5 EXPLOITATION 581 5.1Fishing equipment i 5.1.1 Fishing gear i 5.1.2 Fishing boats i 1563 -

FRm/5105 Mbroviconi iii Page No. 5.2 Fishing areas 5s1

5.2,1 General geographic distribution 1 5,22 Geographical ranges (latitudes, ditance from coast, etc,) 1 5.2,3 Depth ranges i 5,3 Fishing seasons i 5,3,1 General pattern of fishing moamon i 5,3,2 Duration of fishing season * 5,3,3 Dates of beginning, peak and end of season i 5,3,4 Variation in time or duration of fishing seamon * 5,3.,5 Factors affecting fishing season 1

5,4Fishing o erations and results 1 5,4cl Effort and intensity * 5,4.2Selectivity 54.3 Catches 1 2 5,5Fisheries management and regulations * 5,6Fish farmin, trans.lantin and other intervention *

6 REFERENCES 61

* As no information was available to the author, these items have been omitted from the text. - 1564

FHm/Sl05 M.brevioornis 1*].

low; subhepatic groove (anterior part of cer- i IDENTITY vical groove) shallow, does not moot hepatio spine. Indistinct ridge defining branchial 1,,1 Taxonomy region superiorly, present only on posterior part of carapace.. 1.1.1 Definition Recitan carination on abdominal terga hard- ty perceptible on 3rd somite, distinct on pos- Phylum Arthropoda terior two-thirds of 4th and on 5th and 6th Class Crustacea somites; 5th semite about two-thirds length of Subclass Malacostraca 6th, 6th as long as telson. Telson shorter than Series Eurnalacostraca ondopod. of uropod; without marginal spines (Kubo? Superorder Eucarida 1949) or with pair of clearly perceptible dis- Order Decapoda tal spine and seri.es of minute spinules (Raoek Suborder Natantia and Dall, 1965), Section Penaeidoa Family Penaeidae Outer antennular flagellum nearly as long Subfamily Penaeinae as the peduncle. Genus Metapenaous Wood-Mason, 1891 Third maxilliped barely reaches middle of Species Metapenaeus brevicornis antennal scale; dactylus slender, setose, taper- (H. Mime Edwards,1837) ing about four-fifths length of' propothis, not modified in male. 1.1.2 Description Strong antrorso spine on basis of all3 Generic pairs of cholipeds; ischial spine on 1st pex'oio- pod. Last pair of pereiopods reach more than Genus Mota enaous Wood-Mason, in Wood- a dactylus length beyond tip of antennal scale; Mason and Alcook,ÏT,.nn.Mag.nat,Hist. adult male with notch in posterior border of (6)827l. Type species by original desig- proximal end of meras, small tooth at end of nation: Ponaous affinia Ii,Mimo].wards, notch but no other denticles; no subterminal 1837,GeMer: masculine. lobe on border of ischlwn, A detailed description of the genus is given in the Species Synopsis on Metapennous Potassa symmetrical, the 2 halves lightly affinie by George (1970). The following folded, interlocked anteriorly, closely apposed characters distinguish it from other genera posteriorly to form a compressed tube, .Tube of the Penaeinae: ends distally in a pair of simple spouts, eaoh bearing a longish filament near middle (Fig, 2) Rostrum with dorsal teeth only. Cara- pace without longitudinal or transverse Thelycum (Fig, 3) concavo; median lobe sutures or lateral keels. Dorsal keel on 4th shaped like figure eight, anterior portion -6th abdominal segments; lateral keels on between processes of antopenultimate thoraclo 6th segment discontinuous and inconspicuous, sternum, posterior portion between flat cres- Telson grooved, not trifid, No exopod on 3rd cent-shaped lateral lobes, maxilliped or 5th peroiopod, Flesh coloured with sparsely distributed Specific brown dots on dorsal side of body; more such dots on tail fin according to Abmad (1957). Species Metapenaeus brevicornis (H, Milne Edwards, 1837T 1.2 Nomenclature

The species is illustrated in Fig. 1, A key to the species of Metapenaeus is given by George (1970), in the Species The type material, i± still extant, is Synopsis on M. monoceros, and also by Racek and probably in the collection et the Museum Dall (1965:56-68). rational d'Histoire naturelle, Paris. 1.2,1 Valid scientific names Type locaLityt "Les côtes de lt Indo". Metapenaeus brevicornis (R.MimeEdwards, Body not, or very little, tomentoso. 1837). Rostrum curved and rarely reaching middle of 2nd joint of antennular peduncle, cometimos 1.2.2 Synonyms only just surpassing ayos, bearing dorsal crest of 7 teeth. Postrostral crest very indistinct, Objectivesynonymy only just reaches posterior third of carapace. Postantennular (antennal) spine weak; hepatio Psnaeus brevicornis H, Milno Edwards,1837, spine very small. Postantennular groove ohal- Fist. nat, Crust., 2:417 - 1565 is 2 FRm/S105 Mbrevioorni

2 3

Fig. 1Motapenasum brevicornis, lateral view.

Fig. 2 Petasma of adult maie.

Fig.3Thelyoum of adult female.

(from Hall, 1962) - 1566 -

J?Rm/S105 M. brevi oornia 1*3

Penaeopsis brevioornis (H. Mi].no Ed.ward.s, ohingdi, 'Hon.yi', 'Koranoy', 'Kucho' and 1837) Be Man,l9ll,Siboga Axpec1., 39as3 'Saga ohingdi'.

Metapenasue brevicornis (H. Mime Edwards, In Indonesia, the species is known as 1837)Burkenroad, 1934, Bull. Binghain oceanogr. 'udang kuning' (yellow prawn), Coli., 4(7)33.

Subjective synonymy 1.3General variability Penaeus avirostrie Dana, 1852, Crust. U.S. Explor. Exped.: ¿03 1.3.1 Subepeoifio fragmentation

1.2.3 Standard oommon nanee, No subspecies or varieties of M. brevi- vernacular names comte are known.

In India in the Gangetio delta area nd in the Calcutta markets it is called 'Dhanbone -1567 -

FRm/S105 M. brevicornis 2:1

2 DISTRIBUTION Juveniles (0year group), of modal total 2,1 Delimitation of the total area of lengths24,5and26,5mm, occur throughout the distribution and eoologioal charac- year in the upper and middle reaches of the terization of this area Hooghly estuarine system, where they are oommo; from July to October or November (Rajyalakshini, The species is distributed from West 1961), and juveniles and. young adults aleo Pakistan through Indian, Malaysian, Thai and occur throughout the year in inshore waters Indonesian waters to about ast Borneo. Under near Bombay (shaikhmahmud and Tembe,1960), the FAO distribution code (Hoithuis and Rosa, Juveniles of this species contribute up to 19 1965),the species occupies land areas:421, percent of the prawn catches from Singapore 423, 424, 425, 431, 432, 433 and 434,and water ponds in October (Hall,1962);adults of . areas: ISW,I&1M. brovioornis do not occur in these ponde.

In Indian waters M, brevicornim has a more 2,2.2Areas occupied by adult stages: northerly distribution than M. monoceros and seasonal and annual variations 14. affinis, and does not occur in the southern of those area; it contributes to a good fishery in the northern region, both on the west and east Mature adults are found in the lower coasts. It im well represented in estuaries reaches of the Hooghly estuary (Rajyalakshini, and inshore waters, especially on the east 1961) and in the sea in Malaysian waters (Hall, ooast of India. In the Gulf of Kutoh area, 1962),No seasonal or annual variations am the species is distributed mostly in sandy areas reported, (Raaamurthy,1963). It occurs in the Singapore pond fishery and in the sea around Malaysia (Hall,1962).

2.2 Differential distribution 2,2.1Areas occupied by eggs, larvae and other junior stages: annual variations in these patterns, and seasonal variations for stages persisting over two or more seasons

There aro no reports on the occurrence of eggs and larvae of this species. - 156S -

FRni/5105 M. brevicornis 3t1

3 BIONOMICS AND LIFE HISTORY 3,2 Larval history

3.1 Reproduction 3.2.1 Account of embryonic and juvenile life (prelarva, 3,1.1 Sexuality (hermaphroditimm, larva, postlarva, juvenile) heterosexuality, intersexual- ity) No information is available on the larval development of the species, An account of the Am is the case with other penaeids, the biology of juveniles in the fishery of the species is heterosexual. Externally visible Hooghly estuarine system is given by Rajya- genitalia and secondary sex characters are lakshmi (1961), and in the Singapore pond present (see section 1.1.2). fishery by Hall (1962).

3.1.2 Maturity (age and. size) 3,3Adult history

Based on the rapid decline and recovery 3.3,1 Longevity in theconditionfactor with the attainment of sexual maturity, Rajyalakshmi (1961) concluded }tajyalakshxni (1961) recorded 0, 1, 2 and that the species attains maturity at a length 3...year groups from the Hoogly estuarine system, of about 100 mm, Bhimachar (1965) gave the indicating a life span of more than 3 yr. age at maturity as 2 yr, corresponding to a length of 75.0 mm. 3.3.2 Hardiness

11 (1962) reported that the potasmal The species is tolerant to wide variations endopodites fuse together completely when the in salinity, but can withstand only a minimum young attain a carapace length of 11.2 mm. of handling,

3.1.4Fertilization(internal, 3.3.3 Competitors external) In the Singapore pond fishery, where the As in other penneids, fertilization is species occurs, there is no evidence of com- external. petition for food among the important species (Hall, 1962),

3.1.6 Spawning 3.3.4 Predators

Spawning seasons (beginning, end, peak) No large scale predation has been reported,

In the Hooghly estuarine system, on the 3.3.6 Greatest size east coast of India, the species is reported to have 2 spawning seasons, one in the early According to Alcock (1906), the species mummer, March and April, and the other in the very rarely attains a length of5in (127 mm), monsoon months, July and August (Rajyalakshmi, Ienon (1956) jid Bhimachar (1965) recorded the 1961), Hall (1962) recorded 2 peak breeding macimum size for the species as5in (127 mm) seasons for the species in Malaysian waters, and. 125 mm, respectively. However, according namely May to July and October to December. to Chopra (1939) it grows to only about 4 in (101 mm) near Bombay. The largest specimen 3.1.7 Spawninggrounds recorded from the Hooghly estuary by Rajya- lakshmi. (1961) was 120.0 mm. Shaikhmahmud and Tembe (1960) noted the presence of females with conjugal pade, but no 3,4Nutrition and growth maturo specimens in the exploited inshore waters of Bombay. They suggested that mating takes 3.4.1Feeding (time, place, manner, place in shallow water, after which the females season) migrate to deeper water for spawning, In the Hooghly estuarine system, according to Rajya- Hall (1962) analyzed the stomach contents lakshmi (1961), the species spawns in the of 40 specimens, of which 23 were from daylight marine zone of the estuary, i.e. the lower fishing operations in Nalacca Strait and 17 reaches or the inshore areas, In the Malaysian from night fishing from a Singapore prawn pond, waters the species breeds very close inshore Moro of the stomaabs of specimene from the n.i..t (Hall, 1962). fishing operation in the pond wore empty than the stomachs of specimens obtained in the day-. light fishing operations, thereby indicating more feeding activity during dertimo, - 1569

3.2 Fa /5105- M, brevico

3.4.2 Food. (type, volume) 3,4,4Relation of growth to feeding, to other activities The items of food found by Hall (1962), and to onvir.oriniental factors in their order of abundance, were: vegetable matter, mainly consisting of angiosperm tissue The seasonal growth pattern of the species and filamentous algae; small crustacea, mostly in the Hooghly estuary has been worked oit by the calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus hicksoni Rajyalakshmi (1961). She sound. that in and. a few other copepods; echiurid. setas; large females -the growth rate is fastest in sunser, orumtacea, mainly appendages and other remains when the water temperature and salinity in the of penaeids; remains of fishes, particularly estuary aro high (temperature ranging from scales, arid polychaeta. Sand grains were also 30.45 to 30.82°C and salinity from 4.3 to present. 29.10/00 ), The growth rate ìs less in ths rainy season, which is characterized by fairly 3.4.3 Relative and absolute growth high temperatures and low salinities (tempera.- patterns and rates ture, 30,05 to 30,80°C and salinity from a trace to 9,470/00) and. lowest during the winter In the Singapore prawn pond studied by when the temperature is low (21.55 to 23,70°C) Hall.(1962), this species did not show any and. the salinity is relatively high (1.62 to appreciable growth, l9,78°/oo),

Rajyalakshmi (1961) estimated the 3.5Behaviour growth pattern of the species in the Hooghly eatiiarine systems by the probability plot anal- 3,5,1 Migration and local movements ysis of length-frequency distributions. Acoor- ding to her, malee and females attain lengths The typìcal movement of juveniles from of 45.8 mm and. 47.4 mm, respectively, at the brackish-water ponds to offshore breeding end, of the ist year of life, and 80.5 mm and grounds has been rocordeci by Hall (1962), In 89,0 mm, respectively, by the end of the 2nd, the Hooghly estuarine system, Rajyalakshmi year of life, Thus the females show a faster (1961) observed that the spooies spawns in the growth rate than males, particularly during marine zone of the estuary or in inshore areas, the 2nd year, The growth rate curves for males and the young migrate up the estuary, either by and females given by her show that, after the active swimming or by tidal action. They live postlarval phase, the prawn grows at a rate of in the upper reaches of the estuary until the approximately 3 mm per month. Specific growth attainment of maturity, thon the adults appear rate was observed to be highest in the young, to migrate back to the lower reaohes, whore decilini.ng with ago, they mature and spawn,

Based on 70 observations, Hail (1962) es- In Bombay waters, Shaikhmahnud. arid Tombe timated the relationship between carapace length (1960) suggested that females may migrate away and weight as from the inshore areas towards the deeper zone 'to spawn, w = 0,8630 2.650, Subramanyazn (1965) studied immigration Rajyalakshmi (1961) worked out the length- and, emigration of the species in the Oodavary weight relationship on the basis of 1,968 in- estuary, According to him emigration from the dividuals, ranging in total length from 23 mm estuary commenced sparsely in January, reaching to 120 mm, caught in the Hooghly estuary, She its peak in May, Emigration took plaoo mostly found a linear relationship botweon log length by day; immigratjo was at a marmmum at dawn, and, log weight, but the relationship for the The number of migrants was found by him to be 0-year group (a) differs from that for oidor greater at new moon than at full moon and the individuals (b), The relationships for t'ne size range of the migrating prawns was observed 2 groups wore found to be: to be between 21 and. 105 mm. io percentage ratio of micrating M. Log W = -5,0083 + 2,9810 Log L vioornis at changing tidea in Gau'tani estuary Log W -4,5407 -'r 2,6976 Log L (Subramanyam,1965) im shown below. Low tide () 32.88 She also studied the relativo condition High tide (dusk) 18,27 factor Kn(w/7). Seasonal fluctuations and other variations ¶in the condition factor for dif- Low tide (night) 21.92 ferent size groups wore attributed to weight High tide (dawn) 26,93 increases subsequent to .nou].ting. % remaining in the sea (differenco between low and. high tIdes) .9,60 -1570 -

FRn/SlO5M. brevicornis 4z1

4 POPULATION (STOCK) In the inshore waters of Bombay and in tke Singapore prawn ponds, only immature specimens 4,1 Structure of M. brevicornie are taken in the fishorr (Shai]thmahmud and Tambo,1960;Hall,1962). 4..].,]. Sex ratio 4.1.3 Size composition In Bombay- waters, Shaikhmahmud and Tembe (1960)reoorded.slightlyfewer females than In the Hooghly estuary, the catches, ao- males in January(49percent females), similar oording to Rajyalakshmi(1961),ranged in length numbers of each sex in February, and moro fe-P between15mm and115mm. She gave length males in all other months, with a maximum of frequenoy histograms for femaés and males 67peroent in Apri].. In theHooghlyestuary, for the years1959and1960. Sizes of males Rajyalakshmi (1961) found more females than and.females of 1 and2years, whioh occur in males in all months, with the highest percen- the upper and middle zones of the estuary, are tage in January(61,4percent) and the lowest given in section3.4.3. Three year old prawns in July (51.5 percent).. Hall(1962)recorded of90mm or more also contribute to the fishery slightly more females than males (52,1 percent in the lower reaohes. females) in the catches from Singapore prawn ponds.. Size-frequency histograms for malos and females of the species in the Singapore prawn 4,1.2A composition pond fishery for1954to 1955wore given by Hall(1962). Carapace lengths ranged from7 According to Rajyalakshmi (1961) in the to 20mm. lower reaches of the upper zone and the upper roaches of the middle zone of the Hooghly es- In the inshore fishery for the speciesin tuary, 1 and2year groups form the fishery, Bombay waters, Shaikhinahmud and Tombe(1960) the 1-year class forming the dominant group recorded a range in total tength of 40 to 110 during all months except August to October. mm, In the lower-middle and the lower zonas of the Hooghly, 2 additional age groups, O and 3, also contribute to the fishery; the 0-year group appearing only between July and. December0 1571

PRis S105 M. brevioox'nis

5 HXPLOITATION 53flsgoasorie

5.1 Fishing equipment 5.3.1 General pattern of fishing season 5.1.1 Fishing gear Taking the entire coast of India, th' In the Hooghly estuarthe system, bag nets season is generally towards the latter half of (bhinjal and thorjal) form the main typo of the year, except in the Godavary estuary whore gear and account for nearly90percent of the it is mainly in the earlier half. In the total catches, Small drag nets and dip nets Singapore pond fishery also the season for this account for the rest of the landings. The species falls in the latter half of the year, species is also caught tri barrier nets (kai- pata jal) (Rajyalakshmi,1961). Tho 'behundi 5,3,3 Dates of beginning, peak jal' mentioned by Ohopra (1939) is another bag and end of seasons net or oonical purse net, in which the species is oaught in Bengal. In Bombay coast, the 'dol July to February is the CaiX! or or bag net and its variant, the 'bokshi', the species in the Gulf of Kuth sra; ij con- are the main gear used for catching this tribution to the fishery in difont cni;rce species along with other prawns and fish varios from 13.7 to 27,4 percera (1esrnshy, (Shaikhmahmud and Tombe, 1960; Setna,1949). 1963), Slightly south of this unee. e!oi the Bombay coast, the species is avaiiao Loh The method of fishing and the net used in out the year and the peek season is fun the Singapore pond fishery, in which this nary to March, Here tri 1952 to 195e? hc coo species is caught along with others, are des- averaged 12,8 percent of the prawn cntoJi cribed by Hall(1962). (ShaJthmahnvd arid. Tombe, 1960), In the Hoo1'1r estuarine :ctem the species o ichc e.aon The fishing gear employed in the shrimp throughout the yesr, tho l'ic eons cC ho and prawn fisheries in the Kroya Dis±rict in Hooghly and, the lcn:rr u c1nrhete,Che buLF. o Indonesia are described by Djajadiredja and the landings is thn'ing Cn:mou Sachlan (1956), and these includo the skimming November to Fobrueny, S J'e v 'irk so net, push net, cast net, fixed lever net arid the fishery commences Lu tns ri1 cOliC the various traps and tykes, such as the corn- until March (Raalakehiui1 i96i, ccCsnr mon trap, filter trap, filter tyke and bamboo to Subramanyam (1965), fi..:.' screen trap. species in the God.ava, ., ov coast of India, is from ,roh to Juno, 5,1,2 Fishing boats In the Singapore pc'odf)saeí'y,a) iah The species is generally fished without the species is always crerea Lvi the help of boats, it forms an important L'nrc C_sn c. Cha a (naneiy, 19.0 percent) rn 0cCoho onJ' 5,2 Fishing areas fairly common from May to0cCohc: (.tC.396d.,

5,2.1 General geographic distribu- 5,3,5 Factors affecting fishing tion season

The species is fished in most of the areas Rajyalakehini (1961), stpd.inughe 's-on of from which it has been recorded (see sections ocourrence of the epeo.cs in ira flooghif(30iia- 2.1 and 2.2), rifle system, observed. theC Che ògger ciao groups are largely confinad o areas of' Ir'i,ghor 5.2.2 Geographic ranges (latitudes, salinity, where they occin' in the reter ¡'rosi .h, distances from coast, etc.) It is probable that saliuChy plays an iriporhnrC part in the seasonal distributions of these The fishery is generally confined to in- larger prawns as they congregate before spawning, shore areas, estuaries and ponds, In the upper and middle reaches of the oe[uay the peak fishing season is in the iniCar beC 5,2,3 Depth rangos of the year and is dependent on the mi,gi'at!on of juveniles from waters of higher selinht,f, In Bombay waters these prawns are oaubt in inshcre waters varying in depth from 4 to 7 5,4 Fjehjn o erations and rOsulte fm (7 to 13 m)(Shaikhmabmud and Tembe,1960). The fishery in the Hooghly estuarine system 5.4.2 Selectivity is in shallow waters (8ajyalakshmi,1961), None of the fishery, as it exists rit The Singapore prawn pond studied by Hall present, is very selective, (1962)had a high tide mean depth of 4 ft (1,3 m), -1572 -

52 FRin/S105 M. brovicornie

50403 Catches

There apaear to ho no fiuros for any arca giving the commercial catch of M. brevi is separately from -that of other prawns, If catches from the prawn pond studied by Tham Ah Koi (1955) and. Hall (1962) are typical for the Singapore area, then the weight of M brevicornis passing through Singapore rrkets probably amounts to about 1,000 kg t.ri Oo-tobor and, lens in other rnonth. Pantulu(1965)estimated. the total prawn production from -the Eooghly eel;uarine system as 900 tons, According to Rajyalakshmi (1961) 30% of the total prawn catches of this ostuary is contributed by !4. brevicornim. SO the total catches of this species from this region may be en-timatod as 270 tons in a year. -1573 -

FRm/S105M. brevicornie 6l

6 RPFERENCES

Ahmad, N., Prawn and prawn fishery of East Pekistan, Dacoa, East Pecieten, Government Press, 1957 31 p. Al000k,A., Prawns of the Pensum group. In Oatalogue of the Indian Decapod Crustacea in the 1906 collection of the Indian Museum. Part3,Macrura. Paso. I. Calcutta,55 p.

Bhlmachar, B.S. Lif e history and behaviour of Indian prawns. Fishery Technol., Ernakulam, 1965 2(13:1_Il Chopra, BJSL, Some food prawns and, crabs of India and their fisheries. J.Bombay nat.Hiot.Soc,, 1939 4l(2):22l-34 Djajadiredga, R.R. and M. Sachlan, Shrimp and prawú fisheries in Indonesia with special re- 1956 ference to those in Kroya district. Proc.Indo-Pacif.Fish.Coun.,6(3)*366-77

George, M.J., Synopsis of biological data on the penaeid prawn Metapenaeus affinis (H.Milne 1970 Edwards,1837).FAO Pish.Rep.,(57) Vol.4 :1359-75 Synopsis of biological data on the penasid prawn Metapenaene monoceros 1910 (Fabricius, 1798).FAO Fish.Rep,,(57) Vol.4 :1539-57

Hall, D,N,F,, Observations on the taxonomy and biology of moms Indo-West Pacific Penaeidae 1962 (Crus'bacea, Decapoda). Fishery,Pub1s colon,Off.,l7:l229

Hoithuis, L.B. and H. Rosa Jr.,List of species of shrimps and prawns of economic value. 1965 Fish.teeh.Pap.,(52):21 p. rubo, I., Studies on the penaeids of Japan and its adjacent waters. J.Tokyo Coll.Fish., 1949 36(l):1-467

Menon, LIC., Ideatification of marine and inshore prawns of commercial value in Indiá.Proc, 1956 Indo-Pacif,Fish.Ooun,,6(3) :345-6

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