FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

928 Shrimps and Prawns
Trachypenaeus malaiana Balss, 1933
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Trachypenaeus fulvus Dall, 1957; T.
Trachypenaeus curvirostris (Stimpson, 1860).
unicus Hall, 1961 /
FAO names: En - Malayan rough shrimp; Fr - Crevette gambri malaise; Sp - Camarón fijador malayo.
(these FAO names were previously used for Trachypenaeus sedili).
anterior process
(after Motoh and Buri, 1984)
distolateral
projection
posterior plate
thelycum
distomedian
projection
Diagnostic characters: Entire body hairy, with grooves and crests on carapace
obscure. Rostrum armed with 9 or 10 upper teeth (including those on
carapace), nearly straight or slightly curved upward at tip, extending to about
second antennular article. Postrostral crest low and extending almost to
posterior margin of carapace. Longitudinal suture on carapace short. Epipod
present only on third leg; ischial spine on first leg small to entirely absent;
fifth leg extending beyond antennal scale. Abdomen bearing a small median
tubercle on second segment, last 4 segments with a low dorsal crest. Petasma petasma (ventral view)
of males T-shaped, with distolateral projections broadly wing-like and directed
laterally, distomedian projections small. Thelycum of females with
(after Motoh and Buri, 1984)
anterior plate semi-circular and edges slightly raised, bearing a low median groove; posterior plate
with anterior margin broadly V-shaped and bearing a narrow but deep median notch. Telson generally
armed with 1 pair of small movable lateral spines. Colour: body generally greyish to greyish blue,
posterior margin of each abdominal segment covered with an indistinct narrow dark grey band;
eyes dark brown; antennal flagella greyish brown; legs yellowish to pinkish; pleopods pinkish, with whitish
to yellowish markings on sides; uropods almost entirely dark grey to brownish and with yellowish
margins.
Size: Maximum body length 10.5 cm (females) and 8 cm (males), commonly between 5.5 and 8 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Found in offshore waters at depths from 5 to 60 m, over muddy bottoms,
juveniles in brackish water. Taken mainly by trawls. Probably the most common species of the genus in the
area, but of limited commercial
importance due to its
small size and nowhere very
abundant. Forms a bycatch in
prawn fisheries. Marketed
mainly fresh or frozen for local
consumption.
Distribution: Western Pacific
from the Strait of Malacca to
the Philippines, South China
Sea, and northern Australia.