Indian shrimp names including scientific names.

PRAWNS / SHRIMPS

Family : PENAEIDAE (Penaeid shrimps)

1. Penaeus indicus (H.Milne Edwards, 1837)
= Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) indicus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)

INDIAN WHITE PRAWN

Gujarathi	Jingo Jimbo
Marathi	Safed zinga
Konkani	Dhave sungat
Kannada	Bilisegadi / Boldu yetti
Malayalam	Naaran chemmeen / Vellaran chemmeen
Tamil	Vella eral
Telugu	Telia royya
Oriya	Chapda / Telia reyya
Bengali	Chapra

Distribution: India, Pakistan, Madagascar, east coast of Africa, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and Australia.

» Fishery infn. : Very important species occurring along the east and west coasts of India, extending its distribution to all the estuaries and backwaters. Grows to size 20 - 23 cm in length. It forms about 10% of the total marine prawn production of the country. The juveniles spend their life in the estuaries or backwaters till they attain size to about 12 - 14 cm length and return back to sea where sexual maturity takes place. The breeding grounds are deeper waters.

Prefers mud or sandy mud bottoms at 2 to 90 m depth; the adults are caught within 40 m depth. Extensively used for culture in India.

2. Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798

= Penaeus (Penaeus) mondon Fabricius, 1798

= Penaeus bubulus Kubo, 1949

GIANT TIGER PRAWN / BLACK TIGER PRAWN

Gujarathi	Tiger jimbo / Tiger jumbo
Marathi	Tiger zinga
Konkani	Waghie / Vagi
Kannada	Hulisegadi / Tiger
Malayalam	Kaara chemmeen
Tamil	Karuvaneral / Karuppu eral
Telugu	Pappu royya / Gaju royya
Oriya	Bagda / Katla reyya
Bengali	Bagda / Kaalegheri

Distribution: India and Sri Lanka, to the west through the Gulf of Aden and Madagascar and east coast of Africa to the east through Malaysia and Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and nothern Australia.

Fishery infn. : It prefers shallow mud and sand bottoms down to 110 m. In India it occurs in the estuaries, rivers inshore and deeper waters. Juvelines are common in the brackish waters. Larger sizes move to the deeper waters as like P. indicus.

A fast growing prawn; grows upto 32 cm. Extensively cultured in India and other Asian countries. Caught more abundantly along the Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala Coasts.

3. Penaeus semisulcatus De Haan, 1844

= Penaeus (Penaeus) Semisnlcatus De Haan, 1844

GREEN-TIGER PRAWN / FLOWER PRAWN

Gujarathi - Patta jumbo

Marathi - Tiger zinga

Konkani - Sungtam

Malayalam - Kara chemmeen / Flower

Tamil - Vari eral

Telugu - noone royya

Oriya - Bagda / Katla reyya

Bengali - Bagda

Distribution : India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia and the east coast of Africa.

Fishery infn.: In India the occurrence is more along the east coast. It requires both marine and estuarine habitats to complete the life cycle. Maximum attainable size - 23 cm. Usual size in commercial catches 13-15 cm. Caught from sandy or muddy bottoms from depths down to 130 m . Juveniles enters estuaries.

4. Penaeus merguiensis (De Man, 1888)

= Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) merguiensis (De man, 1888)

BANANA PRAWN

Marathi - Safed zinga / White

Telugu - Kolli royya

Oriya - Chapda / Petti reyya

Distribution: Indo-West Pacific; from Persian Gulf, through Pakistan and Indian Coasts to Northern Australia.

Fishery infn. : This species occurs all along the Indian Caosts in stray numbers over a wide area, but supports fishery of some magnitude on the Maharashtra-Goa-Karnataka Coast and the northeast coast along with other species. Juveniles enter estuaries. Maximum attainable size: 24 cm. Lives in shallower water at 10 - 45 m depths.

5. Penaeus penicillatus (Alcock, 1905)

= penaeus (Fenneropenaens) penicillatus (Alcock, 1905)

RED TAIL PRAWN

Gujarathi - Jumbo

Marathi - Safed zinga / White

Distribution: Coasts of Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Fishery infn: Found in shallower waters, down to 90 m. Caught from the inshore waters of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Orissa Coasts. Maximum attainable size - 21 cm.

6. Penaeus japonicus (Bate, 1888)

= Penaeus (Marsupenaeus) Japonicus (Bate, 1888)

KURUMA PRAWN

Gujarathi - Kuruma kolami / Kuruma kolabi

Marathi - Kuruma kolabi / Kuruma kolami

Malayalam - Naaran chemmeen

Tamil - Kathamba eral

Telugu - Pappu royya

Oriya - Bagda / Katla reyya

Bengali - Paonra / Pamra

Distribution: In most parts of the Indo-West Pacific.

Fishery infn. : Living on sandy mud and sand bottoms at depths upto 90 m. Caught along the coasts of India., Supports a fishery at Maharashtra Coast and Pulicat Lake of Tamil Nadu. Grows to*size about 23 cm.

7. Penaeus canaliculatus (Olivier, 1811)

= Penaeus (Melicertus) canaliculars (Olivier, 1811)

WITCH PRAWN

Distribution: East coast of South Africa to the Fuji Islands.

Fishery information: Caught along the southwest coast of India occasionally. It does not constitute a significant fishery in our area. Maximum attainable size : 15 cm. Prefers depths of 30 - 46 m.

8. Penaeus latisulcatus (Kishinouye, 1896)

= Penaeus (Meiicertus) latisulcatus (Kishinouye, 1 896)

KING PRAWN / WESTERN KING PRAWN

Malayalam - Cheriya konchu (?) / Choodan chemmeen

Tamil - Chori eral (?)

Distribution: Red Sea, Indian coastal waters, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, etc.

Fishery infn.: This species is of not much commercial significance in our region. Occasionally caught on the southwest coast. Grows upto 20 cm size. Prefers hard bottoms of sand, mud or gravel in shallower marine water down to 90 m depth.

9. Metapenaeus dobsoni (Miers, 187a)

FLOWER TAIL PRAWN / THELLY SHRIMP / KADAL SHRIMP

Marathi - Polan

Konkani - Kaddi

Kannada - Thembel

Malayalam - Poovalen chemmeen / Thelly chemmeen

Tamil - Chemakkara eral/ Poovalen

Telugu - Chunku royya

Oriya - Ranichingudi / Khopra / Seunku reyya

Bengali - Garang chingri

Distribution : India, Malaysia, Philippines & Japan.

Fishery infn. : This species ranks first, contributing 35% of the total marine prawn catch in the country. Adults occurs in the inshore waters upto 40 m on both the coasts of India and juveniles are seen in brackish and estuarine waters. Maximum attainable size: 13 cm. This species contributes a major portion of the inshore prawn fishery of Kerala.

10. Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius, 1798)

BROWN SHRIMP / SPECKLED PRAWN

Gujarathi - Kapsi jinga

Marathi - Chamari / Kapsi zinga

Kannada - Mande yetty

Malayalam - Choodan chemmeen

Tamil - Valucha eral

Telugu - Kaya bunga / Chukka royya/Bunga royya

Oriya - Khopra / Rani chingudi/Morode

Bengali - Kara chingri / Honne chingri

Distribution: Coasts of India, Mediterranean, South African Coast and Malaysian region, Malacca straight, etc.

Fishery infn. : The adults occur in inshore/coastal waters upto 60 m depths; mostly between 10 - 30 m ; prefers sandy mud bottoms and brackish to marine salinities. The juveniles occur in abundance in all the estuaries and backwaters in India. An important species in the prawn fishery of our country. Abundantly caught along the Kerala and Maharashtra Coasts. Grows upto 19 cm size.

11.Metapenaeus affinis (H.Milne Edwards, 1837)

= Metapeneaus mutatus (Lanchester,i90i)

= Metapeneaus aicocki (George and Rao, 1968)

BROWN SHRIMP / JINGA PRAWN

Gujarathi - Medium jinga

Marathi - Medium / Kolabi / Chatti zinga

Konkani - Kaddi / Sunqto

Malayalam - Kazhanthan chemmeen

Tamil - Kalandan eral / Kal eral

Telugu - Gulla royya

Oriya - Kali reyya / Khopra

Bengali - Chamney chingri

Distribution: Indian Coasts, Malysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan.

Fishery infn. : Found in muddy bottoms down to 90 m depth. Caught along the Indian Coasts from the offshore, coastal and backwaters. It constitutes to over 10% of the total marine prawns caught in India. Maximum attainable size: 18 cm.

12. Metapenaeus brevicornis (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)

YELLOW SHRIMP

Gujarathi - Medium Jinga

Marathi - Choti zinga / Kolabi

Konkani - Kaddi / Sungto

Malayalam - Manja poovalen

Tamil - Manja valucha eral

Telugu - Pasupu royya

Oriya - Kali reyya / Khopra / Halda

Bengali - Chamney chingri

Distribution: Coasts of India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Fishery infn. : Found in coastal waters down to 90 m. This species ranks next to the earlier mentioned three species of the Metapenaeus genus in terms of the landing on Indian Coasts. Maximum attainable size: 14 cm. Mainly caught from the Maharashtra and Gujarat (Gulf of Kutch) Coasts and Hooghly Estuary (W.Bengal). Occurrence, both in estuaries and inshore waters.

13. Metapenaeus lysianssa (De Man, 1888)

BIRD SHRIMP

Distribution: Coasts of India, Srilanka and Indonesia.

Fishery infn.: Occurs in depths down to 40 m, usually found on muddy bottom from shore to 28 m depth.

14. Parapenaeopsis stylifera (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)

KARIKKAADI SHRIMP / KIDDI PRAWN

Gujarathi - Kolami jinga

Marathi - Tiny zinga / Karkari

Kannada - Karikaadi

Malayalam - Karikkaadi chemmeen

Tamil - Karikaadi / Vandu eral

Telugu - Gulla royya

Oriya - Gulla reyya / Koddi

Bengali - Matka

Distribution : Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.

Fishery infn.: An important species in the marine prawn fishery of India. An outstanding feature is that the estuarine phase is absent as this species completes its life cycle in the marine environment only. Rarely caught from the estuaries in case of high saline condition.

Most abundant from Veraval to Trivandnjm on the west coast. Occasionally caught on the east coast. This species makes a significant contribution to the prawn fishery of Kerala in May-June and September-October. Usual size in catches 6- 12 cm; maximum attainable size :14 cm.

15. Parapenaeopsis sculptilis (Heller, 1862) = Parapenaeopsis affinis (Hall, 1962)

RAINBOW PRAWN

Gujarathi - Patta / Kolami jinga

Marathi - Kolabi zinga

Konkani - Kolambi / Sungata

Malayalam - Karikkaadi chemmeen

Telugu - Gulla royya

Oriya - Koddi / Gulla reyya

Distribution: Most regions along the Indo-West Pacific.

Fishery infn: The fishery exists in the Kutch and Bombay regions along the Gujarat and Maharashtra Coast; Hooghly and Godavari Estuaries on the east coast. Juveniles are seen in the Hooghly Estuary.Size in commercial catches: 6-12 cm; maximum attainable size 15 cm.

16. Parapenaeopsis hardwickii (Miers, 1878)

SPEAR PRAWN

Gujarathi - Kolami jinga

Marathi - Tiny zinga

Malayalam - Karikkaadi chemmeen

Tamil - Karikkadi eral

Telugu - Gulla royya

Oriya - Gulla reyya

Bengali - Lai chingri

Distribution: India through Malaysia and China.

Fishery infn: Occurs in sandy muddy bottoms down to 90 m along both the coasts of India. It supports a fishery mainly in Maharashtra and Andhra regions. Juveniles migrate to the shallow inshore waters. Size in commercial catches: 6 -12 cm size; maximum attainable size: 15 cm.

17. Trachypenaeus curvirostris (Stimpson, 1860)

SOUTHERN ROUGH SHRIMP

Distribution: South and East Africa to India and Sri Lanka, including Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Madagascar; extending upto Philippines and Australia.

Fishery infn.: Occurs in 10 - 300 m depth on sand or mud bottom. Usually caught from waters of less than 60 m depth. Caught off Quilon(Kerala) Coast. Maximum size: males 8.1 cm, females 10.5 cm.

18. Trachypenaeus granulosus (Haswell, 1879)

= Trachypenaeus pescadoreensis (Schmitt, 1931)

COARSE SHRIMP

Distribution: Persian Gulf, southwest and southeast coast of India, Taiwan, Philippines and Australia.

Fishery infn. : Occurs from 5 - 80 m depth, on mud, hard sand or rocky bottom. Caught off Kerala Coast from 40 - 50 m depth. Maximum size: males 7.2 cm, females 9.5 cm.

19. Trachypenaeus sedili (Hall, 1961)

MALAYAN ROUGH SHRIMP

Distribution: Coasts of southern India, Sri Lanka, Malay Peninsula and the Gulf of Thailand.

Fishery infn.: Found on mud orsand bottom near shore to 50 mdepth. Caught off Quilon(Kerala) Coast. Maximum size: males 5.1 cm, females 8.8 cm.

20. Penaeopsis jerryi Perez Farfante, 1979

NEEDLE SHRIMP / GONDWANA SHRIMP

Distribution: India including Andamans, Fiji Islands, Philippines, Japan, South China Sea, Gulf of Aden, etc.

Fishery infn.: Deep sea shrimp. Previously known as Penaeopsis rectacuta. Occurrence is reported from the depths of 200 - 400 m off Kerala, Karnataka and Goa Coasts. Size: females 6 - 12 cm and males 5 - 10 cm in catches.

21. Metapenaeopsis andamanensis Wood - Mason, 1891

= Metapenaeopsis coniger Kubo, 1949

Distribution : Indian Sea, through Malaysian waters to Kei Island and Japan.

Fishery infn.: Caught off Kerala, Karnataka , Goa coasts and from Andaman waters in depths 200 - 400 m.

Other species of the family Penaeidae reported from Indian waters are :

22. Metapenaeopsis stridulans (Alcock, 1905)

FIDDLER SHRIMP male size : 7.2 cm , female 10.5 cm

23. Atypopenaeus stenodactylus (Stimpson, 1860)

PERISCOPE SHRIMP male size : 5 cm.

Family: HIPPOLYTIDAE (Cock shrimps)

24. Exhippolysmata ensirostris (Kemp, 1914)

Hippolysmata ensirostris (Kemp, 1914)

HUNTER PRAWN / PINK PRAWN

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Indonesia.

Fishery infn. : Occurs along the Gujarat and Maharashtra Coasts on the west coast and in the Godavari Estuary in Andhra Coast. Caught from the inshore waters. Grows to a length of 8 cm. Landed in good quantities in Bombay region.

Family : PALAEMONIDAE (Palaemonid Shrimps)

25. Nematopalaemon tenuipes (Henderson, 1893)

Palaemon tenuipes (Henderson, 1893)

Leander tenuipes (Henderson, 1893)

SPIDER PRAWN

Distribution: India, Bangladesh and Burma.

Fishery infn.: Inhabits the inshore waters and estuaries along the east and west coasts of India. This species supports a significant fishery in the Maharashtra Coast. Also caught from the Gujarat, W. Bengal and Orissa Coasts. Attains a size of 7.5 cm.

26. Exopalaemon styliferus (H.Milne Edwards, 1840)

Palaemon styliferus (H.Milne Edwards, 1840)

Leander styliferus (H.Milne Edwards, 1840)

r'oshna prawn

Distribution: Pakistan, India, Malay Archipelago and Indonesia.

Fishery infn. : Mainly marine, but also in brackishwater and sometimes rivers. Caught from the coastal and estuarine waters of Maharashtra and W.Bengal Coasts. Abundant along the Gangetic Delta. Grows to a size: males 9 cm, females 8.6 cm.

27. Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879)

GIANT RIVER PRAWN

Malayalam - Konchu / Aattu konchu

Tamil - Aattu eral

Telugu - Neelakantapu royya

Oriya - Galda

Bengali - Galda

Distribution: Indo-Pacific. In India this species is common in the Narmada and Tapti Rivers, Thana Creek & Backwaters, and backwaters and adjoining rivers of Kerala, upper tidal zones and associated areas of rivers of West Bengal.

Fishery infn.: This is the most important species of all the freshwater prawns of commercial significance. Breeds in the gradient zones of the estuaries during December-January in W.Bengal and during August-December in Kerala. The young ones ascends the rivers. They come down the rivers and enters the backwaters with the onset of monsoon. Maximum attainable size 30-32 cm. Contributes a good fishery in Kerala during the monsoon and post monsoon

months. Due to over fishing, its stock in natural sources is depleting alarmingly.

Its capability to grow in fresh water and low saline water, maximum growth rate, omnivorous and hardy nature etc make it most suitable for culture in many countries.

28. Macrobrachium malcolmsonii (H.Milne Edwards, 1844)

= Palaemon malcolmsonii (H.Milne Edwards, 1844)

MONSOON RIVER PRAWN

Distribution: India and Burma.

Fishery infn.: Occurs in all the rivers of India particularly on the west coast, but enters estuaries and backwaters. The Godavari Estuary (Andhra Pradesh) and Hooghly Estuary (W.Bengal) support a good fishery. Maximum attainable size 23 cm (male) and 20 cm (female).

29. Macrobrachium idella (Hiigendrof, 1898)

SLENDER RIVER PRAWN

Malayalam - Koona chemmeen

Distribution: Indo-West Pacific ; East Africa, Madagascar, India.

Fishery infn. : Inhabits the fresh and backwaters of Kerala. It is reported that there are , actually two species co-existing in Kerala: Macrobrachium idella idella and M. idella georgii. Grows upto size: 13.5 cm(male) and 9 cm (female).

30. Macrobrachium choprai (Tiwari, 1974)

Distribution: India.

Fishery infn.: Occurs in the River Ganges at Buxar and Banaras areas. Grows to maximum size of 18.5 cm (male) and 13 cm (female).

31. Macrobrachium rude (Heller, 1862)

Palaemon rudis Heller, 1862

Malayalam - Koona chemmeen

HAIRY RIVER PRAWN

Distribution : Indo-West Pacific. East Africa, Madagascar, India and Bangladesh.

Fishery infn. : Occurs in small quantities the rivers and backwaters in South India and also in the lakes and estuaries in West Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Grows upto size : male 13 cm and female 8.5 cm.

32. Macrobrachium equidens (Dana, 1852)

ROUGH RIVER PRAWN

Malayalam - Koona chemmeen

Distribution : Madagascar, Pakistan, west coast of India, Sri Lanka, Philippines and China.

Fishery infn.: There are two sub species: M.equidens and M.equidens piliai, co-existing in the natural waters in Kerala, Karnataka (Karwar region) and Bombay region. Abundant during the October-January period. Grows upto size : male 9.5 to 10 cm and females 7.6 cm.

Family: PANDALIDAE

33. Heterocarpus woodmasoni Alcock, 1901

INDIAN NYLON SHRIMP

Distribution: East African Coast, through Indian Seas to Kei Island.

Fishery infn.: Deep water shrimp. Occurence is reported from the depths of 200 - 400 m off Kerala Coast with abundance in the 300 - 400 m depth zone and also from Andaman Sea. size range : 9 - 12 cm in commercial catches.

34. Heterocarpus gibbosus Bate, 1888

HUMP-BACK NYLON SHRIMP

Distribution: India including Andaman Sea.

Fishery infn.: Deep water shrimp. Occurrence is reported from the depths of 250 - 400 m off Kerala Coast. Size range in commercial catches 7-14 cm.

35. Parapandalus spinipes Bate, 1888

PANDALID SHRIMP (ORIENTAL NARWAL SHRIMP)

Distribution: Malay Archipelago, Japan, India, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, New Guinea, etc.

Fishery infn. : Deep water shrimp. Occurrence is reported from the 200 - 400 m depths off Kerala. This species is an important constituent among the deep sea prawns in the south western region of our EEZ. In commercial catches the size ranges are 4.5 - 12 cm (males) and 5 -12.5 cm (females).

36. Plesionika ensis (A. Milne Edwards, 1881)

PANDALID SHRIMP / STRIPED GLADIATOR SHRIMP

Distribution : World wide distribution.

Fishery infn: A deep water shrimp. Recently reported from the trawling grounds off Kerala Coast from depths 300 - 400 m.

Family: SOLENOCERIDAE

37. Solenocera hextii Wood-Mason and Alcock, 1891

DEEP SEA MUD SHRIMP / STRIPED GLADIATOR SHRIMP

Distribution : Arabian Sea from the Gulf of Aden to the coasts of India including Bay of Bengal.

Fishery infn.: Deep sea shrimp. Occurence is reported from the depths of 200-400 m off Kerala, Kamataka, Goa in the west coast and off Andhra Pradesh and Orissa in the east coast. Size: from 8-14 cm.

38. Solenocera crassicornis (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)

= Solenocera indica Nataraj, 1945

= Solenocera subnuda Kubo, 1949

COASTAL MUD SHRIMP

Dstribution : Arabian Sea : India and Sri Lanka

Fishery Infn. : Inhabits muddy bottoms close to the shore. Usually occurs in depths from 20 m to 85 m . A burrowing shrimp.

39. Solenocera choprai Nataraj, 1945

Solenocera alticarinata Kubo, 1949

RIDGEBACK SHRIMP

Distribution: East Africa from Mozambique to Kenya, Pakistan, India, South China Sea and Japan.

Fishery Infn.: Fishery is of very less magnitude, found between 75 and 100 m on soft bottoms and shallow waters.

Family: ARISTEIDAE

40. Aristeus alcocki Ramadan, 1938 RED

SHRIMP

Distribution: Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Aden, etc.

Fishery infn.: This deep water species occurring in the Indian waters was previously identified as Aristeus semidentatus. Occurrence is reported from depths of 250 - 420 m off Kerala Coast. The species exhibits a high degree of sexual dimorphism with males being considerably smaller than the females. Size range : males 9-10 cm and females 10 - 19 cm in catches.

Family : SERGESTIDAE (Sergestid shrimps)

41. Acetes indicus H. Milne Edwards, 1830

PASTE SHRIMP

Gujarathi - Jawala

Marathi - Jawala / Kolim

Konkani - Galmo

Kannada - Seme yetty

Malayalam - Thelly chemmeen / Podi chemmeen

Tamil - Chennakkuni

Telugu - Royya pottu / Kooni royya

Oriya - Chungudi

Bengali - Bhuri chingri/Ghusa chingri / Gagua

Distribution: Indian Seas. Gulf of Thailand, Malaysia and East Indies.

Fishery infn.: Northern west coast and east coast of India. Inhabits inshore and brackishwaters. During breeding time, dense shoals of Acetus indicus appear in estuaries in January-April. Abundantly caught along the northwest coast of India. Maximum size attainable: 4 cm. This tiny shrimp is used for paste preparations. Major portion of the Sergestids {Acetes spp.) caught in our region is dried, salted or fermented with salt.

Other species caught in our area:

42 Acetes erythraeus Nobili, 1905

43 Acetes johni Nataraj, 1947

44 Acetes sibogae Handsen, 1919

46 Acetes japonicus Kishrnouye, 1905