Page 88 - Invasive_Species_2013

Mediterranean invasive species factsheet

CRUSTACEANS

Reproduction Common name: Peregrine shrimp

7-10 teeth
identification

Scientific Name:
Metapenaeus stebbingi
Picture

Key identifying features
Brief history
This shrimp reaches a maximum length of 11 cm in
males and 14 cm in females. The smooth carapace is
cream-coloured and speckled with rust-coloured
spots. The antennae and margins of the tail fan are
reddish. The rostrum has 7–10 teeth on the upper
margin. The first and third pairs of walking legs have
a basal spine. The longest segment of the fifth
walking leg of males (the merus) bears a notch on
the inner margin.

Field identification signs and habitat Reproduction
This species inhabits sandy or sandy-mud bottoms Females attain sexual maturity at a relatively small size
down to 90 m in depth. Juveniles occur in shallow (5.5–6.0 cm in length). The highest percentage of
coastal waters and adults usually further offshore, mature females occurs between May and June, but the
buried in the substrate in daytime and foraging at breeding season generally lasts from April to October.
night.

Metapenaeus stebbingi. Photo: Olfa Ben Abdallah

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