Shrimps are protandric hermaphrodites, which means that they are born as males, but will eventually turn into females. At 2 1/2 years of age, shrimp will become a full mature male, and they will begin to fertilize older females in offshore waters. After breeding, the males will change into females. Then the adult females will move into inshore waters to spawn. The male genital system of the shrimp consists of internal organs, paired testes, paired vas deferens, paired terminal ampoules, and external organs; which are a petasma, and a pair of appendix musculina. The female reproductive system consists of paired ovaries, paired oviducts', and a single thelycum.