In these animals the body is compressed and the carapace is not hard.
The abdomen is very large in proportion to the cephalothorax, and has
a peculiar bend. The rostrum is often longer than the thorax. The
eye-stalks, antennæ, and legs sometimes attain extraordinary length,
and the chelæ (claws) are not always on the first pair of legs. In
some species chelæ are on two or three pairs of the legs. Above the
antennæ are expanded antennal scales, which, together with the long
bases of the antennules and very prominent eye-stalks, make the head
a broad and conspicuous feature. The difference between shrimps and
prawns is not very well defined, the small individuals seeming to
be generally called shrimps, the larger full-grown ones prawns.
[pg260] Prawns are known as /crevettes/ in France and as /Garnelen/
in Germany, where they are largely used as food. In the United States
the shrimp-fishery is an industry of the South. On the California
coast the fisheries are very extensive and are monopolized by the
Chinese.
GENUS ^Penæus^
^P. setiferus.^ This species is about six inches in length when
full-grown. A ridge or crest extends along the center of the
carapace, and terminates in a long, pointed, toothed rostrum,
the teeth being fringed with hair on the inner side. The antennæ
are a foot or more in length; there are chelæ on the first three
pairs of thoracic feet; the swimming-feet and lateral margins of
the segments of the abdomen are fringed with hair; and the caudal
appendages are longer than the telson. It ranges from Virginia
southward, and is very abundant on the shores of the Southern
States, where it is gathered for the markets. The large ones are
known as prawns and the small ones as shrimps.
^P. brasiliensis.^ This species is associated with /P. setiferus/,
and, although not so abundant, forms a part of the shrimp-supply
in the fisheries. It differs from the former in having a groove
on each side of the ridge which runs through the center and whole
length of the carapace. The first three pairs of feet are chelated.
This shrimp is found as far north as Long Island, and often in
brackish water, or even where the water is quite fresh.
GENUS =Palæmonetes=
^P. vulgaris (Palæmon vulgaris).^ Average size one half of an inch
in length; body translucent, almost colorless, irregularly spotted;
rostrum as long as carapace and toothed on the upper edge. It is
found among eel-grass in brackish water, and also in pools and
ditches on muddy shores from Massachusetts Bay to Florida. Commonly
known as prawns.
[Illustration: /Palæmonetes vulgaris/; male.]
GENUS ^Crangon^
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