Pandalus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Eucarida
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Caridea
Family: Pandalidae
Genus: Pandalus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pandalus: //pænˈdæləs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Spot shrimp (Pandalus platyceros) by Not stated. Used under a Public domain license.

Pandalus platyceros 195844499 by Alexandria 'Alex' Wenninger. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Minibar - DC - 2014 - 1 by kowarski. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

California fish and game (19892894433) by Internet Archive Book Images. Used under a No restrictions license.

Spot prawns by Julia Sumangil. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Zensai- amaebi tartare, celeriac puree, tomato sorbet, finger limes, shrimp chips by T.Tseng. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

Pandalus, commonly known as cold-water prawns, is a genus of shrimp that inhabits seabeds in cold marine environments. They are important in commercial fisheries and exhibit unique reproductive strategies. Species within this genus demonstrate rapid growth, enabling population recovery after disturbances.

Physical Characteristics

Members of the genus Pandalus are medium-sized shrimp that typically inhabit coastal marine environments near the seabed.

Identification Tips

Identification can involve looking at physical features like body shape and coloration, as well as specific morphological traits among different species in the genus.

Habitat

Pandalus species are mostly found on or near the seabed in cold marine waters.

Distribution

They are distributed in various cold-water regions where suitable habitats are present for their populations, often in the North Atlantic and North Pacific.

Diet

Their diet primarily consists of small invertebrates and plankton they encounter in their benthic environment.

Life Cycle

The lifespan of Pandalus is typically three to five years. They have a rapid growth rate and their life cycle includes a planktonic larval stage lasting four to six months.

Reproduction

Pandalus species are protandric hermaphrodites, initially maturing as males and later becoming females. Reproduction occurs in the spring, with females producing and carrying around 3,000 fertilized eggs under their abdomen.

Ecosystem Role

As benthic invertebrates, Pandalus species play a role in the marine ecosystem as both prey and as a contributor to the benthic community dynamics.

Economic Impact

Several species of Pandalus are substantial to commercial fisheries, being targeted by trawling activities.