Keys for the determination of seven families, and 56 genera of Penaeoidean and Sergestoidean shrimps are provided, along with diagnoses of these taxa. The Penaeoidean families are: Aristeidae, Benthesicymidae, Penaeidae, Sicyoniidae, and Solenoceridae; the Sergestoidean families are: Luciferidae and Sergestidae. Three new genera are diagnosed: Austropenaeus gen. novo (family Aristeidae), Megokris gen. novo and Rimapenaeus gen. novo (family Penaeidae). Pelagopenaeus, (family Penaeidae), a name originally proposed by BURKENROAD(1934), is given
nomenclatural availability. The earlier names Aristaeopsis Wood-Mason, 1891 (family Aristeidae) and Trachysalambria Burkenroad, 1934 (family Penaeidae) are resurrected. The subgenera Farfantepenaeus, Fenneropenaeus, Litopenaeus, Marsupenaeus, and Melicertus are raised to full genera. In addition to diagnoses for the families and genera, a section on synonymy for each taxon includes references that have contributed to our understanding of the taxa. For each genus, a list of its currently recognized species and subspecies, along with author and date of publication, and distributional records is given. These lists include about 500 species. A reference is provided in the bibliography for every author and date mentioned in the text. An illustrated glossary
explains the terms used in the diagnoses. At least one species of each genus (often the type species) is illustrated, along with figures of diagnostic features such as the petasma, thelycum, and seminal receptacles.