Kung maenum (กุ้งแม่น้ำ)

[Kanga Japan]

Does anyone know the scientific name for KUNG MAENUM (กุ้งแม่น้ำ)?

I understand that it is different from KUNG KAM KRAM (กุ้งก้ามกราม) and KUNG NANG (กุ้งนาง) which are know as 'giant river prawns' (Macrobrachium rosenbergii).

Thanks for your help.

[laolover88]

Your request is not precise enough, There are many species of what are generally known in English as Crayfish or Ecrevisses in French. You going to eat them with Cassava?

[Oxx]

Same species.

From Wikipedia:

กุ้งก้ามกรามมีชื่อเรียกที่ต่างออกไปมากมาย เช่น "กุ้งแม่น้ำ", "กุ้งหลวง"

KUNG KAMKRAM [Giant Fresh Water Prawns] have many other names which they are known by such as KUNG MAE NAM [river prawns], KUNG LUANG [noble prawns]

https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B8%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1

[Kanga Japan]

Dear laolover88,

Thank you for your reply. No I am not going to eat them. I wanted to know the scientific term for them, so that I could add the correct photo.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear Oxx,

Thank you very much for that translation.

I noticed that article myself, but as my Thai skills are not too good, I wasn't sure exactly what it meant. Now I know.

Much appreciated.

[evilebxxx]

Out of line a little here, but river prawns served here are mostly not from the river at all.

Edited April 16, 2016 by evilebxxx

[Kanga Japan]

Interesting evilebxxx. I guess that they are riverish prawns.

[Oxx]

Interesting evilebxxx. I guess that they are riverish prawns.

Most are farmed in ponds adjacent to rivers. Ayutthaya province is big for this. One of my favourite nights out is to go to a small village outside Ayutthaya town where there are 30 or so restaurants, all with trays of live prawns in front, the prawns segregated by size, larger prawns being more expensive. You pick your size, and they are then roasted over charcoal and served with nam jim (a spicy dipping sauce). Every time I go there I feel sorry for ordinary people back in my home country where they neither have access to such wonderful Crustacea, nor could they afford them at European prices even if available.

To a lesser extent there are prawns raised in salt water ponds next to the sea. Prachuap Khirikan province and other provinces on the eastern coast do this a lot. Terrible for the environment, though.

Prawns taken from nature are a rarity and are very expensive.

Somewhat off topic, but a few years ago I went to Isaan and ordered a prawn dish. I was shocked that the prawns were frozen. I really have been spoiled living in Ayutthaya where frozen prawns really don't exist. Certainly in central and southern Thailand fresh prawns are available in abundance and are relatively cheap. Clearly not so in the north east. And in the north, I don't really recall seeing prawns on the menu at all.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear Oxx,

Thank you very much for that interesting information on the farming of prawns in Ayutthaya.

It seems that Thailand is blessed with an abundance of prawns, whether they are farmed or taken from their natural environment. Just today I received a photo of some Thai giant river prawns - incredibly large.

[Mole]

กุ้งกุลาดำ กุ้งก้ามกราม กุ้งแชบ๊วย กุ้งขาว กุ้งตะกาด กุ้งเปลือกอ่อน กุ้งดีดขัน กุ้งกะเปาะ กุ้งฝอย

kung kula dam - kung kam kram - kung chae buay - kung khao - kung takat - kung pluak on - kung dit khan - kung kapo - kung foi

Somebody posted this on facebook today about prawns which can be found in Bang Pakong river.

Wild prawns from nature aren't actually that rare. For example in Ayutthaya area, the kung kam kram which the area is famous for are all captured from the wild and delivered to the restaurants. They're quite pricey though.

Pics are some I recently had when I was in Ayutthaya.