Geographic Range
Giant tiger prawns are native to the coasts of the Arabian peninsula and the Pacific
and Indian Ocean coasts of Australia, Indonesia, south and southeast Asia, and South
Africa. They were accidentally introduced to the United States off the coast of South
Carolina in 1988, by an unexpected release from an aquaculture center. They had spread
as far south as Florida's coastline by 1990 and, since 2006, have been found in the
Gulf of Mexico; they are found along the coastlines of Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.
- Biogeographic Regions
- nearctic
- palearctic
- oriental
- ethiopian
- australian
- indian ocean
- atlantic ocean
- pacific ocean
Habitat
Young giant tiger prawns are most commonly found in estuaries, lagoons and mangroves;
they are very tolerant to a range of salinity levels from 2-30 ppt. Adults move into
deeper waters and live on rocky or muddy bottoms, ranging in depth from 0-110 m (most
commonly at 20-50 m). These shrimps may bury themselves in the substrate during the
day, emerging to feed at night. They live in waters ranging from 28-33°C and are unlikely
to survive in waters colder than 13°C.
- Habitat Regions
- temperate
- tropical
- saltwater or marine
- Aquatic Biomes
- benthic
- coastal
- brackish water
- Other Habitat Features
- estuarine
- intertidal or littoral
Physical Description
Giant tiger prawns have a typical prawn body plan including a head, tail, five pairs
of swimming legs (pleopods) and five pairs of walking legs (pereopods), as well as
numerous head appendages. A carapace (hard exoskeleton) encloses the cephalothorax.
Their heads have a rostrum (an extension of the carapace in front of the eyes) and
six to eight dorsal teeth, as well as two to four sigmoidally-shaped ventral teeth.
A posterior ridge called the adrostral carina extends from the rostrum to the edge
of the epigastric spine, which reaches to the posterior end of the carapace. Their
first three pairs of pereopods have claws and they are distinguished from other shrimp
species by the lack of an exopod (an external branch) on their fifth pleopodia. The
telson at the posterior end of the prawn is unarmed, with no spines.
Giant tiger prawns are identified by distinct black and white stripes on their backs
and tails; on their abdomens, these stripes alternate black/yellow or blue/yellow.
Base body color varies from green, brown, red, grey, or blue. These prawns are very
large, reaching 330 mm or greater in length (largest individual found at 336 mm total
length) and are sexually dimorphic, with females are larger than males. At sexual
maturity, female carapace lengths range from 47-164 mm and their total lengths from
164-190 mm, while male carapace lengths fall between 37 and 71 mm, with total lengths
of up to 134 mm. On average, females weigh 200-320 g and males weigh 100-170 g.
Females have a sperm receptacle (thyelycum) located ventrally on the last thoracic
segment. After mating, sperm remain in this receptacle until eggs are released. Females
have a pair of internal fused ovaries that extend almost the entire length of their
bodies, from the cardiac region of the stomach to the anterior portion of the telson.
Males have a copulatory organ (petasma, formed by the longitudinally folded endopods
of the first pair of pleopods. The presence of an appendix masculina (an oval flap
on the second pleopod) can distinguish males from females. Testes are unpigmented/translucent
and are found dorsal to the hepatopancreas under the carapace. The vas deferens is
also internal, and arises from the posterior margins of the main axis of the testes.
Sperm are released through genital pores on the fifth pereopod.
- Other Physical Features
- ectothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- female larger
Development
Eggs begin development by slowly sinking to the bottom of outer littoral areas. Giant
tiger prawns develop through a complex life cycle beginning with three larval stages.
Naupilii hatch twelve to fifteen hours after spawning is completed and look like tiny
spiders. Larvae at this stage do not feed, instead surviving on their yolks as they
are carried by tidal currents from open ocean towards shore. Naupilii larvae pass
through six quick molts, increasing their body size. Individuals in the next larval
stage, called protozoea, are identified by increased body size and length, the appearance
of feathery appendages and, though still planktonic, beginning to feed. After molting
three more times, protozoea proceed into the mysis larval stage. At this stage, they
begin to have characteristics of adult prawns including segmented bodies, eye stalks,
and tails. Mysis larvae molt three more times, becoming postlarvae. At this point
in the life cycle, they change from planktonic to benthic feeding. This entire process
takes two to three weeks. Prawns continue to molt through a juvenile phase, lasting
1-6 months. Juveniles and adults are distinguished mainly by location and carapace
length. Carapace lengths of juveniles range from 2.2-11 mm and they are found mainly
in estuarine areas located at the mouth or middle of bays and mangroves while adults
are found in outer littoral areas of full salinity, and have carapace lengths ranging
from 37-81 mm.
- Development - Life Cycle
- metamorphosis
Reproduction
Giant tiger prawns are known to mate prior to ovarian maturation; females store sperm
in sacs within their closed thelycum until eggs are fully mature. Although little
is known regarding specific mating behaviors, it has been noted that this species
mates nocturnally, in off-shore waters, shortly after females have molted and their
carapaces are still soft (males typically still have hard carapaces during breeding).
Copulation begins with a male swimming parallel to a female. The male bends his body
and first pair of pleopods with the petasma (caught by the appendix masculina) stretched
vertically down, in order to facilitate the forward swinging of the second pair of
pleopods. The first pair of pleopods pulls apart the petasmal halves, preventing the
loss of sperm during copulation. The pair then takes an abdomen-to-abdomen position.
The female exerts pressure on the male's petasma using her 4th pair of pereiopods
and a spermatophore (sac of sperm) is thrust into her thyelycum, after which the pair
separate. A majority of adult individuals copulate more than once; females are known
to spawn 4 times during their lives, at carapace lengths of 50, 62, 66, and 72 mm.
- Mating System
- polygynandrous (promiscuous)
It is difficult to estimate age at sexual maturity, but males become mature upon reaching
an average carapace size of 37 mm, females at 47 mm. Females can produce 248,000-810,000
eggs at a time and are known to spawn up to four times during their lifespan. Once
eggs are mature, they are expelled in a greenish-white cloud, along with stored spermatophores,
into the ocean where external fertilization occurs. Eggs range in size from 0.27-0.31
mm.
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- year-round breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- fertilization
- broadcast (group) spawning
- oviparous
- sperm-storing
- delayed fertilization
Males exhibit no parental involvement after mating. Females invest by yolking and
protecting eggs while they are still in their bodies. They exhibit no further parental
involvement once eggs and sperm have been released.
- Parental Investment
- female parental care
-
pre-fertilization
- provisioning
-
protecting
- female
Lifespan/Longevity
The lifespan for wild and captive giant tiger prawns is about 2 years, though it has
been suggested that individuals introduced into the Gulf of Mexico have a lifespan
closer to 3 years.
Behavior
Giant tiger prawns are nocturnal feeders who often burrow into substrate during the
day. They move about the ocean floor searching for food, which is picked up and manipulated
by their pereopods and mouthparts. No published information regarding their social
behaviors is currently available.
- Key Behaviors
- natatorial
- nocturnal
- motile
Home Range
No information regarding the average territory size for this species is currently available.
Communication and Perception
Giant tiger prawns have eyestalks on their heads which enable them to detect predators
and search out prey. The eyes are called ommatidia, and are composed of clusters of
photoreceptors. Since giant tiger prawns are nocturnal, they must have very good vision
at night to detect predators and prey, but can also see well in daylight. Eyestalks
have the ability to change their optical properties based on light-dark adaptations.
In dark light, eyestalks receive light from a wide angle and create a superposition
image, formed by mirrors in the sides of the cornea instead of by lenses. This superposition
image is very effective at detecting movement. In bright light, eyestalks have the
ability to see almost 360 degrees and form apposition images, a more efficient detector
of light than superposition images. Molting Inhibition Hormone (MIH), which controls
the molting cycle, is produced in the eyestalks; a recent study showed that when eyestalks
are ablated, molting is accelerated. It is also known that ablating eyestalks in this
species induces ovulation and jeopardizes growth. Giant tiger prawns also have flagellae
on their antennae, which detect predators and prey through vibrations. These flagellae
also have chemosensors, which detect amino acids and differences in pH, salinity and
food stimulants.
- Other Communication Modes
- vibrations
- Perception Channels
- visual
- tactile
- vibrations
- chemical
Food Habits
In their first larval stage, giant tiger prawns feed on their yolk reserves. Later
larval stages filter feed on plankton, diatoms, and other small organisms in the water
column before becoming benthic feeders with a diet composed of organisms such as polycheate
worms (Sabellaridae, Spionidae, Unicidae), as well as detritus. In the wild, adult
giant tiger prawns feed on mollusks (including squid, blood clams (
Arca
sp.) and oysters), small crustaceans (including isopods, crabs and their eggs, and
young penaeid prawns, including their own species). In aquaculture, these prawns feed
on artificial diets consisting mainly of fishmeal; it has been noted that individuals
grow more quickly when fed this diet.
- Primary Diet
-
carnivore
- eats non-insect arthropods
- molluscivore
- vermivore
- scavenger
- omnivore
- planktivore
- detritivore
- Animal Foods
- fish
- eggs
- carrion
- mollusks
- aquatic or marine worms
- aquatic crustaceans
- other marine invertebrates
- Plant Foods
- phytoplankton
- Other Foods
- detritus
- Foraging Behavior
- filter-feeding
Predation
Throughout their lifetimes, giant tiger prawns face a variety of predators, including
birds, comb jellies, crustaceans, and fishes. When adult prawns move from shallow
inshore areas to deeper water, their rate of mortality drops.
Giant tiger prawns have developed a variety of defenses to protect themselves from
predation. Prawns have spines on either end of their body (a rostrum above the mouth,
and a telson located at the dorsal end of the body). Their distinctive stripes and
body color, which is similar to their muddy environment, help to camouflage them from
predators. These prawns also bury themselves in substrate, not only hiding their bodies
but also masking their waste, which would otherwise likely be detected by potential
fish predators' chemosensory systems.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- cryptic
Ecosystem Roles
Giant tiger prawns are detritivores and consumers of small invertebrates. They also
are prey for many species of fishes and invertebrates.
Giant tiger prawns are a host for a variety of viruses, all of which are extremely
contagious within populations and cause high mortality rates. The Yellowhead virus,
originally isolated from this species, causes the hepatopancreas and cephalothorax
to become discoloured and swollen. WSSV (White Spot Syndrome Virus) causes white spot
disease, symptoms of which include lesions and white deposits on the skin and connective
tissue. There are two types of Baculovirus infections commonly seen in these prawns:
Baculoviral Midgut Gland Necrosis, which affects mainly larvae, and Monodon baculovirus
disease, which is typically followed by secondary bacterial infections. These diseases
are of particular concern in aquaculture environments and in areas where this species
has been introduced.
Giant tiger prawns are also host to a number of protozoan ectoparasites and endoparasites.
Their ectoparasites attach themselves to the gills and limbs, potentially interfering
with breathing and motility, while their endoparasites live in the gut and can affect
nutrient absorption. This species is also known to host of a number of fungal microsporidians.
- Baculovirus
- White spot syndrome virus (Whispoviridae)
- Yellowhead virus
- Acineta sp. (Order Endogenida, Class Phyllopharyngea)
- Epistylis sp. (Order Sessilida, Phylum Ciliophora)
- Voritcella sp. (Order Sessilida, Phylum Ciliophora)
- Zoothamnium sp. (Order Peritrichida, Phylum Ciliophora)
- Cephalolobus sp. (Order Eugregarinida, Class Sporozoea)
- Nematopsis sp. (Order Eugregarinida, Class Sporozoea)
- Nematopsis sundarbanensis (Order Eugregarinida, Class Sporozoea)
- Agmasoma penaei (Class Microsporea, Phylum Microspora)
- Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (Class Microsporea, Phylum Microspora)
- Nosema sp. (Class Microsporea, Phylum Microspora)
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Farming of Giant tiger prawns constitutes 47% of total world shrimp production giving
it significant economic importance, particularly in Asian countries. With a high demand
in Asian and international markets, building and running farms to produce these shrimp
can be highly profitable and create many jobs.
- Positive Impacts
- food
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
This species is invasive in waters around the United States. Diseases carried by giant
tiger prawns are highly contagious and can infect native shrimp populations, harming
local fishing industries.
It has been estimated that up to 38% of native mangrove forests in Asia have been
destroyed to be converted into ponds for shrimp farming, triggering erosion and harming
habitat for mollusks and many other species, including shorebirds. Farming pools are
sprayed with many chemicals and antibiotics to maximize shrimp production and these
chemicals can enter natural waterways, harming animals and humans alike. These pools
are often abandoned after a few years and there is typically no effort to return these
lands to their original conditions.
Conservation Status
Other Comments
This species is known by a variety of common names. The most common name is giant
tiger prawn (shrimp). However, they are also called Asian prawn shrimp, ghost prawn,
and grass shrimp.
Additional Links
Contributors
Jennifer Kiel (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Jeremy Wright (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
- Nearctic
-
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
- introduced
-
referring to animal species that have been transported to and established populations in regions outside of their natural range, usually through human action.
- Palearctic
-
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Ethiopian
-
living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Australian
-
Living in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea and associated islands.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Atlantic Ocean
-
the body of water between Africa, Europe, the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), and the western hemisphere. It is the second largest ocean in the world after the Pacific Ocean.
- introduced
-
referring to animal species that have been transported to and established populations in regions outside of their natural range, usually through human action.
- Pacific Ocean
-
body of water between the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), Australia, Asia, and the western hemisphere. This is the world's largest ocean, covering about 28% of the world's surface.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- temperate
-
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- saltwater or marine
-
mainly lives in oceans, seas, or other bodies of salt water.
- benthic
-
Referring to an animal that lives on or near the bottom of a body of water. Also an aquatic biome consisting of the ocean bottom below the pelagic and coastal zones. Bottom habitats in the very deepest oceans (below 9000 m) are sometimes referred to as the abyssal zone. see also oceanic vent.
- coastal
-
the nearshore aquatic habitats near a coast, or shoreline.
- brackish water
-
areas with salty water, usually in coastal marshes and estuaries.
- estuarine
-
an area where a freshwater river meets the ocean and tidal influences result in fluctuations in salinity.
- intertidal or littoral
-
the area of shoreline influenced mainly by the tides, between the highest and lowest reaches of the tide. An aquatic habitat.
- ectothermic
-
animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- metamorphosis
-
A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when young animals are similar to adults and change gradually into the adult form, and "complete metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms. Butterflies have complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.
- polygynandrous
-
the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- year-round breeding
-
breeding takes place throughout the year
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- external fertilization
-
fertilization takes place outside the female's body
- oviparous
-
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
- sperm-storing
-
mature spermatozoa are stored by females following copulation. Male sperm storage also occurs, as sperm are retained in the male epididymes (in mammals) for a period that can, in some cases, extend over several weeks or more, but here we use the term to refer only to sperm storage by females.
- delayed fertilization
-
a substantial delay (longer than the minimum time required for sperm to travel to the egg) takes place between copulation and fertilization, used to describe female sperm storage.
- female parental care
-
parental care is carried out by females
- natatorial
-
specialized for swimming
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- vibrations
-
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- vibrations
-
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- carrion
-
flesh of dead animals.
- phytoplankton
-
photosynthetic or plant constituent of plankton; mainly unicellular algae. (Compare to zooplankton.)
- detritus
-
particles of organic material from dead and decomposing organisms. Detritus is the result of the activity of decomposers (organisms that decompose organic material).
- filter-feeding
-
a method of feeding where small food particles are filtered from the surrounding water by various mechanisms. Used mainly by aquatic invertebrates, especially plankton, but also by baleen whales.
- cryptic
-
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
- food
-
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
- molluscivore
-
eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca
- scavenger
-
an animal that mainly eats dead animals
- omnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals
- planktivore
-
an animal that mainly eats plankton
- detritivore
-
an animal that mainly eats decomposed plants and/or animals
References
Abu Hena, M., O. Hishamuddin. 2012. Food selection preference of different ages and sizes of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, in tropical aquaculture ponds in Malaysia. African Journal of Biotechnology , 11/22: 6153-6159. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.academicjournals.org/ajb/PDF/pdf2012/15Mar/Abu%20Hena%20and%20Hishamuddin.pdf .
Chakraborti, J., P. Bandyapadhyay. 2011. Seasonal incidence of protozoan parasites of the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) of Sundarbans, West Bengal, India. Journal of Parasitic Diseases , 35/1: 61-65. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114977/ .
Crockford, M. 2008. "White Spot Disease" (On-line pdf). Australia and New Zealand Standard Diagnostic Procedures. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.scahls.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1516518/White_Spot_Syndrome_Virus.pdf .
Dall, W., B. Hill, P. Rothlisberg, D. Sharples. 1991. Advances in Marine Biology . Queensland, Australia: Academic Press. Accessed March 15, 2012 at http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/science/bookseries/00652881/27 .
Dash, G., P. Yonzone, A. Roy. 2010. PREVALENCE AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF PROTOZOAN PARASITES IN PENAEID SHRIMP PENAEUS MONODON IN HIGH SALINE BHERIES OF WEST BENGAL. Journal of Experimental Zoology of India , 13/2: 427-430. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.connectjournals.com/file_html_pdf/787602H_j18_427a.pdf .
Duda, T., S. Palumbi. 1999. Population structure of the black tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon, among western Indian Ocean and western Pacific populations. Marine Biology , 134: 705-710. Accessed February 01, 2012 at http://www.springerlink.com/content/4avy2kyfja0967uf/ .
Environmental Defense Fund, 2011. "Giant Tiger Prawn" (On-line). Accessed February 09, 2012 at http://apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=15754 .
FAO, 2001. "Crustacean Disease" (On-line). Accessed February 22, 2012 at http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y1679e/y1679e00.htm .
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, 2012. "Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. About us - Fisheries and Aquaculture Department" (On-line). Accessed February 01, 2012 at http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Penaeus_monodon/en .
FAO-FIRA, 2010. "Giant Tiger Prawn Home" (On-line). Accessed February 10, 2012 at http://affris.org/giant_tiger_prawn/overview.php .
GreenPeace, 2012. "Shrimp Farming" (On-line). Accessed February 22, 2012 at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/aquaculture/shrimp-farming/ .
IUCN, 2012. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (On-line). Accessed February 04, 2013 at www.iucnredlist.org .
Institute for the Study of Invasive Species, 2011. "Penaeus monodon" (On-line). Accessed February 24, 2012 at http://www.tsusinvasives.org/database/black-tiger-shrimp.html .
Johnson, S. 1995. Handbook of Shrimp Diseases . Bryan, TX: Texas A&M University Sea Grant College Program. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/tamu/tamuh95001.pdf .
Knott, D., P. Fuller, A. Benson, M. Neilson. 2011. "NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species" (On-line). Accessed February 09, 2012 at http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=1209 .
Monterey Bay Aquarium, 2012. "Farmed Shrimp Seafood Watch" (On-line). Accessed February 09, 2012 at http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_factsheet.aspx?gid=58 .
Motoh, H. 1981. Studies on the fisheries biology of the giant tigen prawn, Penaeus monodon in the Philippines . Tigbauan, Philippines: Aquaculture Dept., Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.
Nadala, Jr., E., L. Tapay, P. Loh. 1997. Yellow-head virus: a rhabdovirus-like pathogen of penaeid shrimp. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms , 31: 141-146. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.int-res.com/articles/dao/31/d031p141.pdf .
New South Wales Government, 2009. "Prawns - aquaculture prospects" (On-line). Accessed February 10, 2012 at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/aquaculture/publications/species-saltwater/prawns .
Primavera, H. 1997. Fish predation on mangrove-associated penaeids The role of structures and substrate. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology , 215: 205-216. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://mangroveweb.seafdec.org.ph/pubs/Fish%20predation.pdf .
Primavera, J., F. Parado-Estepa, J. Lebata. 1998. Morphometric relationship of length and weight of giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon according to life stage, sex and source. Aquaculture , Volume 164. Issues 1-4: 67-75. Accessed February 01, 2012 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004484869800177X .
Rajagopal, S., M. Srinivasan, S. Khan. 1995. Problems in Culturing the Black Tiger Shrimp ( Penaeus monodon ) the Semi-intensive way: An Indian Experience. Naga , 3: 29-30. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.worldfishcenter.org/Naga/na_2235.pdf .
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 2008. "South Carolina Aquatic Invasive Species MANAGEMENT PLAN" (On-line). Accessed February 09, 2012 at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/invasiveweeds/aisfiles/SCAISplan.pdf .
State of New South Wales through Department of Industry and Investment, 2010. "Biology and Life cycle of prawns" (On-line). Accessed February 10, 2012 at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/aquaculture/publications/species-saltwater/prawns .
Thomas, M. 1972. FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF PENAEUS MONODON FABRICIUS FROM KORAPUZHA ESTUARY. Indian Journal of Fisheries , Volume 19. Issue 1&2: 202-204.
Toubiana, M., O. Guelorget, J. Bouchereau, H. Lucien-Brun, A. Marques. 2004. Microsporidians in penaeid shrimp along the west coast of Madagascar. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms , 58: 79–82. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.int-res.com/articles/dao2004/58/d058p079.pdf .
Tourtip, S., S. Wongtripop, G. Stentiford, K. Bateman, S. Sriurairatana, J. Chavadej, K. Sritunyalucksana, B. Withyachumnarnkul. 2009. Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei sp. nov. (Microsporida: Enterocytozoonidae), a parasite of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (Decapoda: Penaeidae): Fine structure and phylogenetic relationships. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology , 102: 21-29. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.crustaceancrl.eu/publications/2009_%20JIP%20Enterocytozoon%20hepatopanaei.pdf .
Uawisetwathana, U., R. Leelatanawit, A. Klanchui, J. Prommoon, S. Klinbunga, N. Karoonuthaisiri. 2011. Insights into Eyestalk Ablation Mechanism to Induce Ovarian Maturation in the Black Tiger Shrimp. PLoS ONE , 6/9: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024427. Accessed January 29, 2012 at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0024427 .
Vainio, L., K. Lagerspetz. 2006. Thermal Behavior of Crustaceans. Biological Reviews , Vol. 81, Issue 2: 237-258. Accessed March 25, 2012 at http://www.aseanbiodiversity.info/Abstract/51008099.pdf .
Xu, Z., J. Primavera, L. de la Pena, P. Pettit, J. Belak, A. Alcivar-Warren. 2001. Genetic diversity of wild and cultured Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in the Philippines using microsatellites. Aquaculture , 199: 13-40. Accessed February 01, 2012 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848600005354 .
Yano, I., R. Kanna, R. Oyama, J. Wyban. 1988. Mating behavior in the penaeid shrimp Pennaeus vannamei. Marine Biology , 97: 171-175. Accessed March 21, 2012 at http://wenku.baidu.com/view/6a6c9c6eaf1ffc4ffe47ac5f.html .
2013. "Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798" (On-line). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/search .