Taxonomy of Shellfish

5.1.3. Fenneropenaeus penicillatus

Unit 5 -Key to important species the family Penaeidae

5.1.3. Fenneropenaeus penicillatus - Redtail prawn

• No lateral keels on carapace;
• Cutting portion of mandible short and massive;
• Rostrum toothed on dorsal, as well as on ventral margin, rostrum armed with 7 to 9 teeth on dorsal and 3 to 5 teeth on ventral margin, blade of rostrum convex, becoming relatively high in large specimens;
• Abrostral crest and groove extending just beyond epigastric tooth, the groove shallow; postrostral crest ending distinctly before posterior margin of carapace; gastro-orbital crest extending over middle third of distance between hepatic spine and orbital margin;
• In adult males, dactyl of third maxilliped much longer than propodus (1.5 to 2.7 times). Petasma (in males) with very short distomedian projections, generally not reaching distal margin of costae.
• Thelycum (in females) with lateral plates, their median margin forming tumid lips; anterior process slightly concave, rounded distally; posterior process ill-calcified, almost completely inserted between lateral plates.