FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Penaeidae 897
17a. In males, basial spine of third leg extremely long and barbed; in females, lateral plates
of thelycum partially sheathing anterior plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Metapenaeus dobsoni
17b. In males, basial spine of third leg sample, not barbed; in females, lateral plates of
thelycum not sheathing anterior plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . →18
18a. Rostrum without a distinct crest; adrostral groove extending beyond epigastric tooth
(Fig. 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Metapenaeus eboracensis
18b. Rostrum with a distinct crest; adrostral groove not reaching epigastric tooth (Fig. 26) . . . . . →19
19a. In males, distolateral projections of petasma directed outward, distomedian projections
with slender apical filaments; in females, thelycum with a large anterior and small lateral
plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Metapenaeus brevicornis
19b. In males, distolateral projections of petasma directed forward, distomedian projections
with ribbon-like apical filaments; in females, thelycum with a small anterior and large
lateral plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Metapenaeus tenuipes
Key to the species of Parapenaeopsis occurring in the area 1/
Note: in addition to the following key characters, the shape of the petasma and thelycum can also be very
helpful for quick identification of mature specimens (see figures shown in the respective species accounts).
1a. First and second legs with epipods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 2
1b. First and second legs without epipods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 8
2a. First leg without basial spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parapenaeopsis gracillima
2b. First leg with basial spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 3
3a. Second leg with basial spine absent or minute; carapace with a
large dorsoposterior dark brown patch . . . . . . . . Parapenaeopsis uncta
3b. Second leg usually with a distinct basial spine; carapace without
conspicuous dark patches on dorsal surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 4
4a. Telson armed with 1 or 2 pairs of fixed lateral spines (Fig. 28)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parapenaeopsis coromandelica
4b. Telson without fixed lateral spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 5
5a. Longitudinal suture short, reaching to about level of hepatic
spine (Figs 29a, b); male petasma horn-like; in females, anterior
and posterior plates of thelycum fused medially . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 6
5b. Longitudinal suture long, extending near to posterior carapace
(Figs 29c, d); male petasma not horn-like; in females, anterior
and posterior plates of thelycum separated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 7
6a. Rostrum usually with 7 or 8 upper teeth (Fig. 29a); third leg without basial spine; in
males, tip of distolateral projection of petasma with a small dorsal spiniform process; in
females, posterior plate of thelycum without a median boss . . . . . . . . Parapenaeopsis cornuta
6b. Rostrum usually with 9 or 10 upper teeth (Fig. 29b); third leg with a basial spine; in
males, tip of distolateral projection of petasma without dorsal spiniform processes; in
females, posterior plate of thelycum with a median boss . . . . . . . Parapenaeopsis maxillipedo
suture
short
a) Parapenaeopsis cornuta
telson
Fig. 28 Parapenaeopsis
coromandelica
b) Parapenaeopsis maxillipedo
suture
long
c) Parapenaeopsis hardwickii d) Parapenaeopsis sculptilis
Fig. 29 carapace (lateral view)
1/ The taxonomic status and the relationships of some species of this genus are still unclear. For example,
Parapenaeopsis probata Hall, 1961 is here treated as a synonym of P. uncta Alcock, 1905, but its status probably
should be re-examined.