Penaeidae Family of Shrimp
Two Shrimp of the Penaeidae Family can be found in this website:
Phylogeny: Penaeid Shrimp or Penaeid Prawns of the Penaeidae Family are in the phylum Arthropoda, the subfamily Crustacea, the superclass Multicrustacea, and the Class Malacostraca. The are in the subclass Eumalacostraca, the superorder Eucarida, the order Decapoda, the suborder Dendrobranchiata, and the superfamily Penaeoidea. The Penaeidae Family is one of five families in this superfamily. The Penaeidae Family is large, with twenty-six genera, eleven subgenera, and two hundred thirty species. The name Penaeidae comes from either the Greek name for the river Pénaios, or from Latin for the name Peneus, a river god from Greek mythology.
Morphology: Penaeid Shrimp have 5 head segments, 8 thoracic segments, and 6 abdominal segments. The head and thorax are combined as a cephalothorax. The head includes a pair of antennae, a pair of antennules, and mouth parts. Penaeid Shrimp have five pairs of appendages that function as legs (pereiopods). These legs are well-developed, and the first 3 pairs have small claws. They have 6 pairs of biramous (dividing to form 2 branches) appendages along their abdomen. The first 5 pairs function as swimmerets (pleopods). The last pair is flattened to form a tail fan. Penaeid Shrimp are characterized by having a raised ridge in the center of their head (rostrum) that is toothed and runs to, or past, the eyes. The eyes are relatively large. These shrimp have an abdomen that is somewhat compressed, and their first abdominal segment overlaps the second segment. Penaeid Shrimp are usually fairly drab in coloration. They reach a maximum of 30 cm (11.7 inches) in length. Penaeid Shrimp differ from Caridean Shrimp by having a branching gill structure and by not brooding their eggs.
Habitat and Distribution: Penaeid Shrimp may be found on sand, mudflats, rock, coral, or in sea grass beds. They may be found in freshwater, brackish, or marine environments. The great majority of these shrimp are found in shallow water, but some are found at depths up to 600 m (1,970 feet). The marine Penaeid Shrimp are found worldwide in tropical to subtropical seas. At least fifteen species from this family are found in Mexican waters.
Reproduction: Penaeid Shrimp are gonochoric (male or female for life) and reproduce sexually with indirect sperm transfer. The male transfers a sperm packet (spermatophore) to the female’s abdomen. As the female releases her eggs they pass the spermatophore and are fertilized. The eggs hatch into planktonic larvae, often in a day or less. In some species the female may lay over one million eggs. They generally travel between offshore spawning grounds and coastal nursery habitats.
Ecosystem Roles: Penaeid Shrimp are primarily opportunistic omnivores, feeding on algae, bacterial mats, carrion, copepods, detritus and nematodes. In turn they are preyed upon by sea and shore birds, cephalopods, cnidarians, and crustaceans. The commercial harvest of Penaeid Shrimp comprises one the world’s most important fisheries. They are also raised by farming, a very important source of food and economic development in much of the world, especially Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, poor farming practices have caused the widespread introduction of viruses and other pathogens that can be devastating to these farms. Floods, tsunamis, and mechanical failures have allowed these pathogens to be released into the wild, causing significant damage to native stocks.