FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Penaeidae 921
Penaeus merguiensis De Man, 1888 PBA
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards, 1837; P. penicillatus
Alcock, 1905; P. silasi Muthu and Motoh, 1979.
FAO names: En - Banana prawn; Fr - Crevette banane; Sp - Camarón banana.
distomedian
projection
ventral
costa
distal 2 segments of
third maxilliped
(male)
Diagnostic characters: Carapace rather smooth, lacking gastrofrontal and
hepatic crests; adrostral crest extending to, or just before, epigastric tooth; tip
of rostrum horizontally straight, and rostral crest becoming very high and
broadly triangular in large specimens (even stronger in females), generally
bearing 6 to 9 upper teeth (including those on carapace) and mostly3to5lower
teeth; postrostral crest extending near to posterior margin of carapace; gastroorbital
crest varying from distinct to nearly absent (in some specimens from
the Philippines to Australia), extending over middle third to posterior 2/3 of
the distance between hepatic spine and orbital margin. In adult males, third
maxilliped with distal segment only about half as long as second segment
which bears a tuft of dense short hairs (slightly shorter than distal segment)
at tip. Petasma of males with distomedian projections short, not reaching distal
posterior
process
margin of costae. Thelycum of females formed by 2 semi-circular lateral plates, with their median margins
forming tumid lips; anterior process slightly rounded and concave, obscured by hairs; posterior process
elongated and inserted between anterior part of lateral plates. Telson lacking lateral spines. Colour: body
semi-translucent, somewhat yellowish (in youngs and moderate-sized specimens) to greenish (in very
large specimens) and covered with numerous minute dark brown dots; eyes light brown and covered with
some dark brown mesh-like stripes; rostral and abdominal dorsal crests reddish brown to dark brown; antennal
flagella reddish brown; antennular flagella of same colour as body and covered with many dark spots; legs
translucent and somewhat whitish; pleopods pinkish to reddish; distal part of uropods yellowish green with
red margins; young specimens often with many longitudinal black broken lines on abdomen.
Size: Maximum body length 24 cm (carapace length about 6 cm) in females and 20 cm (carapace length
about 5 cm) in males, commonly between 13 and 15 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: On bottoms of sand and mud, from the coastline and river mouths to depths of
about 55 m, usually less than 20 m; prefers turbid waters. Sometimes forms very dense shoals and good catches
are often linked with heavy rainfall. One of the economically most important shrimp species in the area. From
1990 to 1995, the reported annual catch of P. merguiensis in the Western Central Pacific ranged from 44 303 to
52 087 t. About 4/5 of this production originated in Indonesia. Caught by trawls, fish corrals, pocket netting, beach
seining, cast nets, and artisanal gear. Also plays an important role in pond culture in Thailand (1 814 t in 1995),
Malaysia (66 t in 1995), Indonesia (24 610 t in
1995), and the Philippines (all these data
from FAO Aquaculture Statistics). Marketed
mostly fresh and frozen, consumed locally
and exported. In the Philippines, this prawn
has only about half the market value of P.
monodon and in Australia it is sold at slightly
lower prices than P. indicus.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific from the
Arabian Sea to the South China Sea and Fiji.
lateral
lobe
petasma
(ventral view)
anterior process
lateral plates
thelycum