Telson Spine is a Variable Diagnostic Feature in Metapenaeus brevicornis (Edwards, M 1837)

Abstract

Metapenaeus brevicornis is a common penaeid prawn of India which is pantropical in distribution. The species was first recorded as Penaeus brevicornis by Milne Edwards (1837) of Ganjam coast of Orissa. Alcock (1906) placed the species under Metapenaeus. Specimens recorded from different places in India have 1 to 2 spines on the telson. Whereas those from Australia and other places have only one spine. Kubo(1949) found no spine in Japanese species. Since all the specimen agree in other diagnostic features it is suggested that the number of spine on telson in Metapenaeus brevicornis is a variable character.