Penaeus is a genus of prawns, containing several commercially important edible species. The giant tiger prawn (P. monodon) is the most important species of farmed crustacean worldwide.[citation needed]

Taxonomy

The genus was reorganised following a 1997 proposition of Pérez Farfante and Kensley based on morphological differences, in particular the genital characteristics of these animals, although this revision has not been universally accepted. Following the revision, many species formerly in the genus Penaeus were reassigned to new genera in the family Penaeidae: Farfantepenaeus, Fenneropenaeus, Litopenaeus, Melicertus and Marsupenaeus.

In 2023, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses Chan proposed a reclassification of Peneaus sensu lato into eleven subgenera.

The following table gives an overview:

SubgenusEpithetSpeciesPérez Farfante and KensleyCommon name(s)
(Penaeus)monodonP. (P.) monodonPenaeus monodongiant tiger prawn, black tiger shrimp
(Melicertus)kerathurusP. (M.) kerathurusMelicertus kerathuruscaramote prawn, triple-grooved shrimp
(Fenneropenaeus)chinensisP. (Fe.) chinensisFenneropenaeus chinensisfleshy prawn, Chinese white shrimp, oriental shrimp
orientalisP. (Fe.) orientalis
indicusP. (Fe.) indicusFenneropenaeus indicusIndian prawn, redleg banana prawn, Indian banana prawn
merguiensisP. (Fe.) merguiensisFenneropenaeus merguiensisbanana shrimp, banana prawn, white banana prawn, Gulf banana prawn
penicillatusP. (Fe.) penicillatusFenneropenaeus penicillatusredtail prawn
silasiP. (Fe.) silasiFenneropenaeus silasi
(Litopenaeus)occidentalisP. (L.) occidentalisLitopenaeus occidentaliswestern white shrimp
schmittiP. (L.) schmittiLitopenaeus schmittisouthern white shrimp
setiferusP. (L.) setiferusLitopenaeus setiferusnorthern white shrimp
stylirostrisP. (L.) stylirostrisLitopenaeus stylirostriswestern blue shrimp, blue shrimp
vannameiP. (L.) vannameiLitopenaeus vannameiwhiteleg shrimp, Pacific white shrimp, king prawn, vannamei prawn
(Marsupenaeus)japonicusP. japonicusMarsupenaeus japonicusKuruma shrimp, Kuruma prawn, Japanese tiger shrimp
(Farfantepenaeus)aztecusP. (Fa.) aztecusFarfantepenaeus aztecusnorthern brown shrimp
brasiliensisP. (Fa.) brasiliensisFarfantepenaeus brasiliensisred-spotted shrimp, spotted pink shrimp
brevirostrisP. (Fa.) brevirostrisFarfantepenaeus brevirostriscrystal shrimp, pink shrimp
californiensisP. (Fa.) californiensisFarfantepenaeus californiensisyellowleg shrimp, brown shrimp
duorarumP. (Fa.) duorarumFarfantepenaeus duorarumnorthern pink shrimp
isabelaeP. (Fa.) isabelae
notialisP. (Fa.) notialisFarfantepenaeus notialissouthern pink shrimp
paulensisP. (Fa.) paulensisFarfantepenaeus paulensisSão Paulo shrimp, Carpas shrimp
subtilisP. (Fa.) subtilisFarfantepenaeus subtilissouthern brown shrimp
(Altiopeneaus)marginatusP. (A.) marginatusMelicertus marginatusaloha prawn
(Eopenaeus)esculentusP. (E.) esculentusPenaeus esculentusbrown tiger prawn
semisulcatusP. (E.) semisulcatusPenaeus semisulcatusgreen tiger prawn
(Ischiopeneaus)longistylusP. (I.) longistylusMelicertus longistylusredspot king prawn, red-spotted prawn
(Oleopenaeus)hathorP. (O.) hathorPenaeus hathor
latisculatusP. (O.) latisculatusMelicertus latisulcatuswestern king prawn
plebejusP. (O.) plebejusMelicertus plebejuseastern king prawn
(Plagosopenaeus)canaliculatusP. (Pl.) canaliculatusMelicertus canaliculatuswitch shrimp, tiger shrimp

Notes

External links