Crustacean is a group of freshwater and saltwater animals having no backbone, with jointed legs and a hard shell made of chitin. This page is created to make identification of common species found in South East Asia easy. The list below are the crustacean species caught in Malaysia. The list also includes name in languages and dialect used in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Crustacean
Species Group: Freshwater crustaceans (ISSCAAP 41)
Common Name: Giant Freshwater Prawn Scientific Name:Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879) Mandarin Name: 大头虾 (Dàtóu xiā), 生虾 (Shēng xiā), 罗氏沼虾 (Luōshì zhǎo xiā), 淡水长臂大虾 (Dànshuǐ cháng bì dà xiā), 马来西亚大虾 (Mǎláixīyà dà xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Galah, Sepit Biru, Jongkong, Jenggo, Jerangkung Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งก้ามกราม (Kûng k̂āmkrām) Local Hokkien: Tua Thau Heh Local Teochew: Tua Thau Heh Local Cantonese: Dai Tau Ha, Sang Ha
Species Group: Sea spiders, crabs, etc (ISSCAAP 42)
Common Name: Blue Swimming Crab, Flower Crab Scientific Name:Portunus Pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1766) Mandarin Name: 花蟹 (Huā xiè) Local Malay Name: Ketam laut, Ketam renjong, Ketam bunga Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปูม้า (Pūm̂ā) Local Hokkien: Cheek Local Teochew: Cheek Local Cantonese: Fah Hai
Common Name: Crucifix Crab Scientific Name:Charybdis Feriatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Mandarin Name: 十字蟹 (Shízì xiè) Local Malay Name: Ketam Karang, Ketam Kristian Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปูลาย (Pūlāy) Local Hokkien: Hong Kah Cheek Local Cantonese: Fong Kah Hai
Common Name: Ridged Swimming Crab Scientific Name:Charybdis Natator (Herbst, 1789) Mandarin Name: 石蟹 (Shí xiè), 石螃蟹 (Shí pángxiè) Local Malay Name: Ketam Batik Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปูหินก้ามสัน (Pū h̄in k̂ām s̄ạn)
Common Name: Indo-pacific Swamp-Crab, Giant mud crab Scientific Name:Scylla serrata (Forsskål, 1775) Mandarin Name: 锯缘青蟹 (Jù yuán qīng xiè), 螃蟹 (Páng xiè) Local Malay Name: Ketam Batu, Ketam Nipah, Ketam Bakau, Ketam Bangkang Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปูเขียว (Pū k̄heīyw), ปูทะเล (Pū thale) Local Hokkien: Cheem Local Teochew: Hoi Local Cantonese: Yook Hai Main Identification Features: Frontal lobe spines between eyes high. Prodopus and carpus of cheliped (claw) spines obvious. Polygonal patterning strong on chelipeds and legs. Remarks: Be careful of the powerful claws. Do not handle if not trained.
Common Name: Purple Mud Crab Scientific Name:Scylla tranquebarica (Fabricius, 1798) Mandarin Name: 紫螯青蟹 (Zǐ áo qīng xiè), 螃蟹 (Páng xiè) Local Malay Name: Ketam Batu, Ketam Derdap, Ketam Nipah Sepit Ungu Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปูม่วง (Pū m̀wng) Local Hokkien: Cheem Local Teochew: Hoi Local Cantonese: Yook Hai Main Identification Features: Frontal lobe spines between eyes moderately high. Prodopus and carpus of cheliped spines obvious. Polygonal patterning weak on chelipeds and first two pairs of legs but last two pairs of legs with stronger patterning. Remarks: Be careful of the powerful claws. Do not handle if not trained.
Species Group: Lobsters, Spiny rock lobster, etc (ISSCAAP 43)
Common Name: Spiny lobster, Mud Spiny Lobster Scientific Name:Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793) Mandarin Name: 龙虾 (Lóngxiā) Local Malay Name: Udang karang, Udang Kara Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งมังกร (Kûngmạngkorn) Local Hokkien: Leng Heh Local Cantonese: Long Haa
Common Name: Slipper Lobster, Flathead Lobster Scientific Name:Thenus orientalis (Lund, 1793) Mandarin Name: 虾婆 (Xiā pó), 东方扁虾 (Dōngfāng biǎn xiā), 琵琶虾 (Pípá xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang lobok, Udang ketak, Udang kipas Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กั้งกระดาน (Kậngkradān) Local Hokkien: Heh Po Local Cantonese: Pei Paa Haa
Species Group: Shrimps, prawns, etc (ISSCAAP 45)
Common Name: Greasyback Shrimp Scientific Name:Metapenaeus ensis (De Haan, 1844) Mandarin Name: 蓝尾虾 (Lán wěi xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Ekor Biru Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งตะกาดกรีจุด (Kûng takād krī cud) Local Hokkien: Lam Bueh
Common Name: Rainbow Prawn Scientific Name:Parapenaeopsis sculptilis (Heller, 1862) Local Malay Name: Udang Kulit Keras Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งปล้อง (Kûng plong), กุ้งจิ๊กโก๋ (Kûng cík kǒ)
Common Name: Sharp-Rostrum Prawn Scientific Name:Parapenaeopsis hardwickii, P. coromandelica , P. hunger fordi, P. gracilima Local Malay Name: Udang Minyak, Udang Minyak Jalur Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งปล้อง (Kûng plong), กุ้งโอคักใหญ่ (Kûng xo khạk yai)
Common Name: Brown Tiger Prawn Scientific Name:Penaeus esculentus Haswell, 1879 Mandarin Name: 老虎虾 (Lǎo hǔ xiā), 虎纹对虾 (Hǔ wén duìxiā), 褐虎对虾 (Hè hǔ duìxiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Harimau Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งลายเสือ (Kûng lāy s̄eụ̄x) Local Hokkien: Hor Heh
Common Name: King Prawn Scientific Name:Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouye, 1896 Mandarin Name: 大虾 (Dà xiā), 红脚虾 (Hóng jiǎo xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Kaki Merah, Udang Susu, Tua Heh Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งเหลืองหางฟ้า (Kûng h̄elụ̄xngh̄āngf̂ā) Local Hokkien: Tua Heh Local Teochew: Tua Heh
Common Name: Banana Prawn Scientific Name:Penaeus merguiensis (De Man, 1888), Penaeus indicus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) Mandarin Name: 大虾 (Dà xiā), 明虾 (Míng xiā), 大明虾 (Dà míng xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Puteh Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งแชบ๊วย (Kûng chæb́wy), กุ้งขาว (Kûng k̄hāw) Remarks: Difficult to differentiate Penaeus merguiensis and Penaeus indicus
Common Name: Giant Tiger Prawn Scientific Name:Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) Mandarin Name: 老虎虾 (Lǎo hǔ xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Harimau Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งกุลาดำ (Kûng kulādả) Local Hokkien: Hor Heh Remarks: This tiger prawn species is larger in size compared to Penaeus semisulcatus.
Common Name: Green Tiger Prawn Scientific Name:Penaeus semisulcatus (De Haan, 1844) Mandarin Name: 老虎虾 (Lǎo hǔ xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Harimau Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กุ้งกุลาลาย (Kûng kulālāy) Local Hokkien: Hor Heh
Species Group: Miscellaneous marine crustaceans (ISSCAAP 47)
Common Name: Silver Mantis Shrimp Scientific Name:Harpiosquilla harpax (de Haan, 1844) Mandarin Name: 虾姑 (Xiā gū), 濑尿虾 (Lài niào xiā) Local Malay Name: Udang Lipan Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: กั้งตั๊กแตน (Kậng tạ́ketæn) Local Hokkien: Heh Korr Local Teochew: Heh Kow Local Cantonese: Hah Ku, Lai Niu Haa
Notes:
ISSCAAP = International Standard Statistical Classification of Aquatic Animals and Plants
sp. = Species
spp. = Several Species (Species Plural)