Description:-
Coloration normally translucent white, but can change depending on substratum, feed and water turbidity. Rostrum moderately long with 7-10 dorsal and 2-4 ventral teeth. In mature males petasma symmetrical and semi-open. Spermatophores complex, consisting of sperm mass encapsulated by sheath. Mature female has open thelycum. Maximum size 23 cm, with maximum CL of 9 cm. Females commonly faster growing and larger than males.
Remark:-
This species is native to the Pacific coast of Mexico southward to Peru. They occur in tropical marine areas with water temperatures normally higher than 20ºC throughout the year. They are highly euryhaline and can withstand salinities ranging from 0 to 55ppt. Adults live and spawn in the open ocean whereas postlarvae migrate inshore to spend their juvenile, adolescent and sub-adult stages in coastal estuaries, lagoons or mangrove areas. Males reach a total length of 187mm and become sexual mature from 20g onwards. Females are bigger with a length of 230mm and reach sexual maturity from 28g onwards at the age of 6-7 months. In India they were introduced for the purpose of aquaculture.
References:-
Fransen, C.; De Grave, S. (2014). Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=377748 on 2015-03-1
Radhakrishnan, E. V.. V. D. Deshmukh, G. Maheswarudu, Jose Josileen, A. P., Dineshbabu, K. K. Philipose, P. T. Sarada, S. Lakshmi Pillai, K. N. Saleela, Rekhadevi Chakraborty, Gyanaranjan Dash, C.K. Sajeev, P. Thirumilu, B. Sridhara, Y Muniyappa, A.D.Sawant, Narayan G Vaidya, R. Dias Johny, J. B. Verma, P.K.Baby, C. Unnikrishnan, N. P. Ramachandran, A. Vairamani, A. Palanichamy, M. Radhakrishnan and B. Raju. (2012). Prawn fauna (Crustacea: Decapoda) of India - An annotated checklist of the Penaeoid, Sergestoid, Stenopodid and Caridean prawns. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. India, 54 (1): 50-72.
http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Litopenaeus_vannamei/en