Appearance
- Gray to white sometimes with blue or greenish tinge and bright yellow-green tips on tail
- Carapace and base of tail smooth, with no grooves
- Longer antennae than other shrimp (2.5 to 3 times longer than body length)
- Decapod crustaceans with five pairs of legs; first three sets are walking legs with claws
- Rostrum extends to or beyond the outer edge of the eyes with teeth on top and bottom
- Large, well-developed eyes; large swimmerets
Similar Species
Brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus (grooves on carapace and base of tail); pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum (grooves on carapace and base of tail); roughneck shrimp Rimapenaeus constrictus (carapace rough, rostrum and antennae short)
Size
Maximum size about 7 to 8 inches in body length.
Habitat
Nearshore waters in areas of low salinity over organic-rich, mud bottoms. Juveniles usually inhabit seagrass beds and algal mats within estuaries.
Behavior
Larvae feed on plankton (tiny floating plants and animals); juvenile and adult shrimp feed on detritus, plants, microorganisms, macroinvertebrates, and small fish. Cannibalism is also common among adults.
Reproduction
Spawning occurs April through October in nearshore waters. Sexually mature during first year of life.
Additional Information
Short life span, usually less than 2 years.
Also known as: Penaeus setiferus