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Penaeus |
Prawns
Family
Penacidae
Order Decapoda
Most edible prawns
belong to the genera Penaeus and Metapenaeus.
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They can be separated
by the shape of their rostrum ("horn"). Penaeus has teeth on both
rostral margins while Metapenaeus has them only on the upper margin.
| They are occasionally
green in colour due to their feeding on algae. They hide in sand or
mud during the day and forage for all kinds of plant and animal matter
at night. |
Penaeus
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They are important commercially,
especially the tiger prawns, P. semisulcatus and P. monodon.
These command high market prices and are farmed in some areas, especially
near mangroves. Numerous attempts have been made to culture the animals.
(Length up to 20cm). |
Introduction
Shore environment |
