Systematic Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Crustacea
Order: Decapoda
Family: Penaeidae
Genus: Penaeus
Species: Penaeus marginatus
(Randall, 1840)
Common name: Middle prawn
Chinese name: 中蝦, 邊脊對蝦

Rostrum horizontal and extending beyond distal margin of antennular peduncle, provided with 5-6 dorsal teeth and 1-3 ventral teeth. Post-rostral carina with 4 teeth, but without median groove. Adrostral groove reaching first post-rostral tooth and extending towards posterior carapace. Dorsal carina present on 4 to 6 abdominal somites. All pereiopods with exopods. Telson with 3 pairs of movable lateral spines. Colour: Body pale yellow-brown. Dactylus, propodus and distal half of carpus whitish whereas proximal half of carpus and merus orange-red.

Found on sandy and muddy bottom in deeper (~300 m) waters.

Maximum length 200 mm, commonly 130-170 mm.

Eastern Africa to Madagascar, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, Australis and Hawaii.