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PEN Pen 21

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: PENAEIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean) Penaeus (Melicertus) latisulcatus Kishinouye, 1896

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

distom.proj. ventral costa

lat.lobe VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Western king prawn Fr - Crevette royale occidentale Sp - Camarón real NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: petasma, Carapace smooth. Rostrum with 9 to 12 teeth on dorsal, and a single ventral view tooth on ventral margin, sometimes with a feeble accessory crest on the ant.process blade; adrostral crest and groove long, extending almost to posterior post. margin of carapace, the groove wide; postrostral crest well developed as process far back as adrostral groove, with a deep median groove throughout its length; gastrofrontal crest present; gastrofrontal groove bifurcate pos- teriorly; hepatic crest almost horizontal to base of antennal crest and from there sloping anteroventrally; telson armed with 3 pairs of movable spines; no ischial spine on first pereopod. Petasma (in males) with distomedian projections reaching to or slightly overhanging distal margins of costae; ventral costae largely broadened apically, unarmed on their free border but incised on their attached border; outer surface of lateral lobes not tuberculate. Thelycum (in females) with lateral plates, their antero- median angles divergent; anterior process with anterolateral edges raised, forming 2 subtriangular or cylindrical projections; posterior process lat.plates triangular, its anterior edges raised in lateral ridges delimiting a median thelycum depressed area. Colour: body pale yellow to brown; antennal, rostral, postrostral and middorsal abdominal crests dark brown; pleura of first 5 abdominal segments each with a short vertical red or brown stripe; a diagonal stripe of the same colour may be present on last segment; pereopods yellow or blue; pleopods generally yellow; distal part of uropods blue with a fringe of red setae.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Penaeus marginatus: postrostral crest not grooved (grooved in P. latisulcatus); ischial spine present on first pereopod (absent in P. latisulcatus); adults in deep water, at 200 to 300 m depth. P. canaliculatus and P. japonicus: carapace and abdomen dorsally banded; telson unarmed in P. canaliculatus (armed with movable spines in P. latisulcatus); different configuration of petasma and thelycum in P. japonicus. P. indicus Other species in Penaeus; adrostral crest and groove ending distinctly before posterior margin of carapace (almost reaching it in P. latisulcatus); gastrofrontal crest absent (present in P. latisulcatus).

SIZE: P. Iatisulcatus Maximum total length: males, 16.2 cm; females, 20.2 carapace cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Within the area, it occurs from south-east Africa to the Gulf of Oman and the "Gulf”, the Red Sea, Madagascar, Mauritius, La Reunion and Seychelles. Also present along the southern coast of India and Sri Lanka. Further east it extends from Burma to Korea and Japan, New Guinea, Australia and Fiji. Found from the coastline to depths of about 80 m, occasionally in deeper waters, on sand or mud, but with a clear preference in many localities for sandy substrates; the species is nocturnal, burying in the seabed in daytime and emerging at night to feed.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Of minor commercial importance along the African coast (Mozambique to Somalia and the Gulf of Aden); in the Red Sea it is one of the most important species in the catches and in the “Gulf" it is caught in small quantities; in south India and Sri Lanka it is rather rare.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species by FAO in Fishing Area 51. Caught mainly with otter trawls; also taken in small numbers with barrier traps and other artisanal gear. Marketed mostly fresh and frozen.

PEN Pen 26

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: PENAEIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean) Penaeus (Penaeus) monodon Fobricius, 1798

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Penaeus bubulus Kubo, 1949

distom.proj. ventral costa

VERNACULAR NAMES: lat.lobe FAO : En - Giant tiger prawn Fr - Crevette géante tigrée Sp - Camarón tigre gigante NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Carapace smooth. Nostrum armed with 7 or 8 teeth on dorsal, and 3 petasma, or 4 (rarely 2) teeth on ventral margin; adrostral crest and groove ventral view extending as far as, or slightly ahead, of epigastric tooth; postrostral crest well developed, almost reaching posterior margin of carapace, with or ant.process post. without a feeble median groove; gastrofrontal crest absent; antennal process crest very prominent, ending above middle of hepatic crest; gastro-orbital crest extending over posterior half, or less, of distance between hepatic spine and orbital margin; hepatic crest straight, almost horizontal, distinctly separated from base of antennal crest; fifth pereopod without exopod. Petasma (in males) with distomedian projections slightly overhanging distal margin of costae; ventral costae generally unarmed, sometimes minutely serrate at tip; outer surface of lateral lobes generally unarmed; inner surface of lateral lobes armed with spinules. Thelycum (in females) with lateral plates, their median margin sometimes forming tumid lips; anterior process concave, rounded distally; posterior process subtriangular, partly inserted between thelycal plates.

lat.plates thelycum Colour: body green-grey to brown, sometimes reddish or bluish; dorsoposterior margin of carapace generally cream-yellow, often a transverse band of the same colour near middle of carapace; abdomen with dark brown to dark grey and pale yellow dorsal transverse bands (exceptionally absent); antennae uniform pink-brown; pereopods and pleopods of same colour as body or darker, with cream-coloured spots; uropods brown, green-grey or bluish, with a pale yellow to pink median transverse band. Juveniles are pale green, with dark transverse bands on first, third and last abdominal segments.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Penaeus semisulcatus: adrostral crest and groove extend- ing well beyond epigastric tooth (reaching at most as far as epigastric tooth in P. monodon); hepatic crest sloping antero- ventrally (horizontal in P. monodon); fifth pereopod with exopod (without exopod in P. monodon); also differences in colouration.

Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) species: hepatic crest absent; P. semisulcatus body white to pinkish, never banded.

Other species of Penaeus: adrostral crest and groove long, extending almost to posterior margin of carapace; gastro- frontal crest present (absent in P. monodon); distal part of uropods generally blue.

SIZE: P. monodon anterior part of carapace Maximum total length: males, 26.8 cm; females, 33.7 cm; this is the largest penaeid species known.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Within the area, from south and east Africa to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the west coast of Madagascar, Mauritius and La Réunion; also present from Pakistan to south India and Sri Lanka. To the east it extends as far as China and Japan, the Philippines, New Guinea and Australia. Found from the coastline to depths of about 150 m, occasionally in deeper waters; the largest concentrations are fished in less than 60 m on mud or sand, sometimes mixed with shell fragments; juveniles are found in mangrove swamps, estuaries or backwaters; the species is more easily available at night.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

In east Africa (Mozambique to Somalia) and Madagascar it is one of the main species and is of medium commercial importance; in the Red Sea and Pakistan it is sporadically caught by trawlers; also fished in relatively small quantities in India and Sri Lanka.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species by FAO in Fishing Area 51.

Caught with otter trawls, shrimp gill nets, boat and shore seines, stake nets and traps; juveniles are also fished with cast nets, drag nets and push nets.

Marketed mostly fresh and frozen, sometimes dried. PEN Pen 27

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: PENAEIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian ocean) Penaeus (Penaeus) semisulcatus De Hoan, 1844

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Green tiger prawn Fr - Crevette tigrée verte Sp - Camarón tigre verde NATIONAL

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Carapace smooth. Rostrum armed with 5 to 8 teeth on dorsal, and 2 to 4 teeth on ventral margin; adrostral crest and groove extending beyond distomed. ant.process proj. ventral epigastric tooth; postrostral crest almost reaching costa post. posterior margin of carapace, with a distinct median process groove; gastrofrontal crest absent; antennal crest lat.lobe very prominent, ending above posterior third of hepatic crest; gastro-orbital crest extending over posterior 2/3 of distance between hepatic spine and orbital margin; hepatic crest straight, sloping anteroventrally; fifth pereopod with exopod. Petasma (in males) with distomedian projections reaching as far as costae; free border of ventral costae unarmed or minutely serrate near apex; outer surface of lateral lobes, minutely tuberculate. Thelycum (in females) with lateral plates, their median margins forming tumid lips; anterior petasma, lat.plates process with raised edges, delimiting a depressed ventral view thelycum area; posterior process convex, partly inserted between lateral plates. Colour: body pale brown, sometimes greenish; carapace often with 2 yellow-cream dorsal transverse bands; abdomen with brown-grey and pale yellow dorsal transverse bands; antennae banded white and brown; pereopods and pleopods dull red to brown grey, with white, sometimes bluish, specks; proximal part of uropods yellowish, distal part brown-bluish to brown greenish; proximal part of uropods yellowish, distal part brown-bluish to brown- greenish, tips bluish or reddish, fringe of setae usually brown-red. Juveniles are creamish, with irregular mottled brown bands on all abdominal segments.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Penaeus monodon: adrostral crest and groove reaching at most as far as epigastric tooth (extending beyond epigastric tooth in P. semisulcatus); hepatic crest horizontal (sloping anteroventrally in P. semisulcatus); fifth pereopod without exopod (with exopod in P. semisulcatuss); also differences in colouration. Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) species: hepatic crest absent; body white to pinkish, never banded. P. monodon

Other species of Penaeus: adrostral crest and groove long, extending near to posterior margin of carapace; gastrofrontal crest present (absent in P. semisulcatus); distal part of uropods generally blue.

SIZE:

Maximum total length: males, 18 cm; females, 23 cm. P. semisulcatus anterior part of carapace GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Within the area, from south and east Africa to India and Sri Lanka, including the Red Sea, the “Gulf” and western Madagascar. Further east it extends as far as Korea, Japan, the Philippines, New Guinea and northern Australia; the species has also entered the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Inhabits the continental shelf from the coastline to depths of about 130 m but is most abundant in waters less than 60 m deep on mud, sandy-mud or sandy-grit; the species can form small shoals and is predominantly nocturnal, burying in the substrate in daytime; mostly fished at night when the highest catches are obtained, but in some areas also by day.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

In the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the "Gulf" it is very abundant and of major commercial importance, especially in the “Gulf” where the shrimp fishery is based on this species; also fished along the African coast where it is one of the dominating species; abundant in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It is cultivated in Kuwait (in tanks) and India.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species by FAO in Fishing Area 51.

Caught mainly with otter trawls and drift nets; also taken with boat and shore seines, beam trawls, stake nets and traps. Marketed mostly fresh and frozen; also canned.

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