description Spot Shrimp Overview
White spots on a reddish body and long antennae help identify the spot shrimp, Pandalus platyceros, also commonly called a spot prawn. This large marine shrimp occurs along the northeastern Pacific coast from Alaska to California, with populations also found near Japan and Korea. It inhabits rocky areas and can occur at substantial depths, placing it in a very different setting from ornamental freshwater aquarium shrimp. The species supports commercial and recreational fisheries along the Pacific coast.
Its life cycle is also distinctive: like several other pandalid shrimps, it is a protandric hermaphrodite, beginning adult life as a male and later becoming female. That change matters when considering the biology of a harvested population. Spot shrimp suit an interest in Pacific seafood species and marine natural history, combining recognizable body markings with a life history that is less familiar than its role as food.
help Spot Shrimp FAQ
How can I identify a spot shrimp?
Pandalus platyceros has a reddish or brownish body marked by conspicuous white spots, including spots near the tail. It also has long antennae and can grow noticeably larger than many other Pacific shrimp.
Where are spot shrimp caught?
The species lives along the northeastern Pacific coast from Alaska south to California. Fishers target it in rocky, deep-water habitats using baited traps rather than conventional trawling in many local fisheries.
Why are spot shrimp sometimes called spot prawns?
Spot prawn is the common market and fishery name, especially in British Columbia and the US Pacific Northwest. Biologically, the animal belongs to the shrimp genus Pandalus, so both names refer to Pandalus platyceros.
Do spot shrimp change sex during their lives?
Yes. Like several Pandalus species, they are protandric hermaphrodites, generally maturing first as males and later functioning as females.
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