penaeus

Penaeus is a genus of penaeid shrimp in the family Penaeidae. It includes several species widely harvested for food and aquaculture. In some taxonomic treatments, many species formerly placed in Penaeus have been reassigned to other genera such as Litopenaeus and Fenneropenaeus, but Penaeus remains a commonly used name in fisheries literature.

These shrimp occur in warm coastal waters worldwide, inhabiting estuaries, mangrove swamps, and shallow continental shelves. They are demersal decapods with elongated bodies, a rostrum projecting forward, and a tail fan. Penaeus species have complex life cycles that begin with free-swimming larval stages (typically nauplius, zoea, and mysis) before settling to juvenile and adult stages on or near the bottom.

Biology and ecology: Penaeus shrimp are omnivorous, feeding on detritus, plankton, and small invertebrates. They grow rapidly through periodic molts and often exhibit seasonal reproduction. Their juveniles frequently rely on nursery habitats such as mangroves or seagrass beds, which provide shelter and abundant food.

Economic importance: Several Penaeus species are among the world's leading sources of seafood and form the backbone of major global aquaculture operations. Notable species include Penaeus monodon (giant tiger prawn), Penaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp), Penaeus japonicus (kuruma shrimp), and Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp). They face pressures from overfishing, habitat degradation, and diseases such as white spot syndrome, which can impact both wild and farmed populations.