Indian white shrimp (Fenneropenaeus indicus) is one of the most important species for commercial fisheries and aquaculture in Asia. This shrimp species is widely farmed due to its hardiness, rapid growth, and high meat quality. It is popular in both local markets and international trade.
Classification
• The Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
• Type: Arthropods (Arthropoda)
• Subtype: Crustaceans (Crustacea)
• Class: Higher crayfish (Malacostraca)
• Row: Decimals (Decapoda)
• Family: Penaeidae
• Gender: Fenneropenaeus
• View: Fenneropenaeus indicus
Appearance
📏 Sizes
• Up to 22 cm long, males are usually smaller than females
🎨 Description
• Body elongated, slightly compressed laterally
• Color is light gray or whitish with a pearly sheen
• Females have a slightly wider abdomen
• Characteristic sharp rostrum (nose), often with 7–8 teeth
Range and habitat
🌍 Area
• Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal
• West coast of Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Persian Gulf
• Acclimatized and grown on farms in other regions
🌿 Living environment
• Tropical coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons
• Depth — up to 100 m
• Can live in both salt and slightly fresh water
Behavior
🔍 Activity
• Leads a bottom-dwelling lifestyle
• Usually hides in the soil during the day, more active at night
• Very mobile, especially during spawning migrations
🌊 Features
• Adapts well to captive conditions
• Can be bred artificially on farms
Food
🍽️ Diet
• In the wild, it feeds on small invertebrates, plankton, and organic debris
• On farms, they are fed compound feed based on fish meal, algae and vitamins
Reproduction
🧬 Reproduction
• Females lay up to 500,000 eggs in the sea
• Larvae go through several stages of development (nauplius, mysis, postlarva)
• In breeding, broodstock is usually selected for artificial insemination
Meaning for a person
🍤 Economic importance
• One of the main aquaculture sites in India, Iran, Vietnam, Thailand
• Valued for its tender meat and high nutritional value
• It is included in the menu of restaurants in the form of boiled, fried, baked dishes
• Also widely exported frozen
Interesting facts
✔️ Can reach market size (15–18 cm) in just 4–5 months
✔️ It is often confused with other white shrimp, such as Penaeus vannamei
✔️ In some regions of India, traditional curries are made from it
✔️ It has high resistance to some diseases, which makes it profitable to grow
Conclusion
Indian white shrimp is not only a source of high-quality protein, but also an important economic resource for many countries in Asia. Its combination of taste, rapid growth and adaptability makes it an important part of global aquaculture.
