Prawns are decapod crustaceans, belonging to the sub-order Dendrobranchiata [3]. The term "prawn" is also used in various contexts for other animals, especially caridean shrimp [4]. They are found worldwide and include commercially significant species, such as the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, Atlantic white shrimp Penaeus setiferus, Indian prawn Fenneropenaeus indicus and tiger prawn Penaeus monodon.

Prawns are similar in appearance to other small, swimming deacpods, such as shrimp (Caridea) and boxer shrimp (Stenopodidea), but can be distinguished by the gill structure which is branching in prawns (hence the name, dendro =

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