DNA-based molecular markers for differentiation of five penaeid shrimps (Penaeus monodon, P. semisulcatus, Feneropenaeus merguiensis, Litopenaeus vannamei and Marsupenaeus japonicus) were developed based on polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) of 16S ribosomal (r) DNA. Differentiation of P. monodon, P. semisulcatus and L. vannamei can be unambiguously carried out by PCR-RFLP of 16S $rDNA_{560}$ whereas P. semisulcatus and M. japonicus shared a BABB mitotype. These shrimps were successfully discriminated by SSCP analysis of 16S $rDNA_{560}$. Nevertheless, the amplification success for L. vannamei and F. merguiensis was not consistent when tested against larger sample sizes. As a result, 16S $rDNA_{560}$ of an individual representing the most common mitotype of each species was cloned and sequenced. The new primer pair was designed and tested against the large sample sizes (312 bp product, N = 185). The amplification success was consistent across all species. PCR-RFLP of 16S $rDNA_{312}$ was as effective as that of 16S $rDNA_{560}$. Differentiation of all shrimp species were successfully carried out by SSCP analysis.