Metapenaeus dalli
{{Short description|Species of crustacean}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| genus = Metapenaeus
| species = dalli
| authority = (Racek,1957)
}}
Metapenaeus dalli, commonly known as the western school shrimp, is a species of prawn in the genus Metapenaeus.[https://www.gbif.org/species/2223727 Metapenaeus dalli Racek, 1957] It grows up to 8.5 cm.{{Cite web |title=Metapenaeus dalli Racek, 1957 {{!}} COL |url=https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/9XPTB |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=www.catalogueoflife.org}}
Distribution
Metapenaeus dalli is found in the Indo-west Pacific, around the west coast of Australia and Indonesia. Benthic and estuarine, found in depths of 9 to 33 meters, on muddy or sandy bottoms.[https://www.fao.org/4/ac477e/ac477e06.pdf ac477e06.pdf] It prefers temperatures of around 27.7 degrees Celsius.[https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Metapenaeus-dalli Metapenaeus dalli, Western school shrimp]
Interest to fisheries
Metapenaeus dalli is of minor interest to fisheries, but sometimes caught with handnets in estuaries of Western Australia.