FAO/SIDP Species Identification Sheets Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798 FAO Names EN - Giant tiger prawn; FR - Crevette géante tigrée; SP - Langostino jumbo. Scientific Name with Reference Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798, Suppl.Ent.Syst., 408. Synonyms Penaeus carinatus Dana, 1852; Penaeus tahitensis Heller, 1862; Penaeus semisulcatus exsutcatus Hilgendorf, 1879; Penaeus coeruleus Stebbing, 1905; Penaeus bubulus Kubo, 1949; Penaeus monodon monodon Burkenroad, 1959; In older literature often confused with P. semisulcatus . Geographical Distribution Indo-West Pacific: E. and S.E. Africa and Pakistan to Japan, the Malay Archipelago and northern Australia. Habitat and Biology Depth 0 to 110 m. Bottom mud, sand. Estuarine (juveniles) and marine (adults). Size Maximum total length 336 mm. Weight 60 to 130 g. Interest to Fisheries Total production for Penaeus monodon. Total capture for Penaeus monodon. In S.E. and E. Africa (Natal to Somalia, including Madagascar) the species is of minor or moderate commercial importance, it is used for bait and food. In Pakistan it is likewise of minor importance. Jones (1967:1333) indicated that it is more common in prawn catches on the east coast of India than on the west coast. According to Chopra (1939:222) "This is the commonest large sized penaeid of Calcutta, and is sold in our markets in enormous quantities". Kurian & Sebastian (1976:100) cited it as an important commercial species in India, especially on the east coast (Bengal and Orissa); juveniles being caught in estuaries. Also in Bangladesh it is of considerable commercial importance. In Malaya and Thailand Penaeus monodon is fished in offshore waters. It is obtained both by pond fishing and inshore fishing in Malaya, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan; because of its large size the species is quite important economically. Domantay (1956:363) indicated that "among the commercially important prawns in the Philippines, Penaeus monodon Fabricius stands foremost". In Japan and Korea it seems to be of minor importance; Yoshida (1941) remarked that it was sold on the Fusan market in Korea. Also in Australia the species is of commercial interest: Harrison, Kesteven & Setter (1965:8) listed it among the commercial species of the Gulf of Carpentaria, while Racek (1957:12) mentioned it as the last of the six most important species of New South Wales, and as the fourth in importance of the species taken in offshore waters of Queensland. Rapson & McIntosh (1971:17) reported it as constituting about 7% of the commercial catches in New Guinea (mainly in the Gulf of Papua). The total catch reported for FAO The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 144 042 t. The countries with the largest catches were India (93 830t) and Indonesia (31 510 t). Local Names Tiger prawn. Kenya : Kamba (Swahili language; this name is used for the adults and for all commercial Penaeidae) , Kamba ndogo (Swahili language; this name is used for the small ones and for all commercial Penaeidae) . Pakistan : Kalri also used for other species of similar size . India : Jinga (Bombay) , Kara chemmeen (Kerala) , Yera (Madras) , Bagda chingri (Calcutta) . Japan : Ushi-ebi. Grass shrimp. Ghost prawn. Philippines : Sugpo, Jumbo tiger shrimp. Indonesia : Udang windu, Udang pantjet. Australia : Jumbo tiger prawn, Giant tiger prawn, Black tiger prawn, Blue tiger prawn, Leader prawn, Panda prawn. Literature Reference Mohamed, 1970. Source of Information Holthuis, L.B. 1980. FAO species catalogue. Vol.1. Shrimps and prawns of the world. An annotated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries. FAO Fish. Synop., (125)Vol.1:261 p. The "Interest to Fisheries" section has been updated according to recent FAO fishery statistics.