Penaeids

Penaeids are a family of large shrimp within the order Decapoda, widely known as penaeid shrimp or prawns. They belong to the suborder Dendrobranchiata and include several commercially important genera, such as Penaeus, Litopenaeus, Fenneropenaeus, and Farfantepenaeus. Penaeids are found in warm marine and brackish waters in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

They typically inhabit coastal and continental shelf environments, with juveniles often using estuaries, mangroves, and seagrass beds as nurseries. Adults migrate between habitats for feeding and spawning. Penaeids are generally carnivorous, feeding on algae, detritus, plankton, and small invertebrates, and they play a role in coastal food webs.

Reproduction involves females carrying fertilized eggs on their pleopods until hatching. Larval development is free-swimming, passing through multiple larval stages before reaching postlarval or juvenile forms that resemble adults. Growth is rapid in favorable conditions, contributing to their suitability for aquaculture.

Economic importance: Penaeids represent some of the world's most valuable seafood resources. The giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) and the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) are among the most widely cultivated species, while many penaeids support substantial wild fisheries. They are farmed extensively in Asia, the Americas, and other regions.

Threats and management: Populations face overfishing, habitat loss, and disease outbreaks, including viral pathogens that affect aquaculture. Climate change and ocean acidification may affect larval survival and distribution. Management approaches include catch limits, protection of nursery habitats, improved hatchery biosecurity, and certification schemes to promote sustainable production.