Indian records of the Genus Metapenaeopsis Bouvier, 1905 with special reference to extended distribution of two species

Abstract

Genus Metapenaeopsis was created by Bouvier (1905) with M. pubescens as type. Burkenroad (1934) redefined the genus and relegated this genus as a subgenus of Penaeopsis Bate, 1881, on the basis of the shape of petasma. Kubo (1949), however, re-elevated it to the generic status. Wood-Mason (1891) was the first to record this genus from Indian water as Metapenaeus. Present study reveals that Indian water represents a total of 12 species of the genus Metapenaeopsis Bouvier, 1905. Among these, Metapenaeopsis toloensis Hall, 1962 was previously recorded from Andaman sea. Present record is the first from coastal water of peninsular India. Metapenaeopsis stridulans Alcock, 1905 was previously recorded from east coast and up to Trivancor of west coast by Nataraj (1942) & George (1979). During present study, distribution of the species extend upto Gujarat, West coast of India.