Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic position of Macrobrachium lanchesteri (De Man, 1911), with descriptions of two new species from Thailand (Decapoda, Caridea, Palaemonidae)

By

Chaowvieng, Apisara
Čhirasak Sutčharit
Chanabun, Ratmanee
Srisonchai, Ruttapon
Jeratthitikul, Ekgachai
Siriwut, Warut

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1190

Pages

163--193

Subjects

Edible prawns , Lower Mekong basin , morphological plasticity , new species

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1190.113898

 

Abstract

Macrobrachium lanchesteri (De Man, 1911), a translucent freshwater prawn has a wide distribution range throughout mainland Southeast Asia. A high morphological variation and genetic divergence between different geographical M. lanchesteri populations in Thailand have peculiarly extended the uncertainty of species boundaries and blended confusingly with several Macrobrachium species. To clarify these circumstances, broad sample examinations of the morphological variation, including topotype specimens, and phylogenetic reconstruction based on the concatenated mitochondrial dataset (16s rRNA and COI genes) were performed. Broad morphological examination of M. lanchesteri has shown congruency with phylogenetic analyses by revealing prominent lineages of M. lanchesteri sensu stricto and two new sibling lineages with interspecific variation between 6.48–8.76% for COI and 3.06–4.23% for 16S. Descriptions of two new species, named herein as M. panhai Chaowvieng & Siriwut, sp. nov. and M. rostrolevatus Chaowvieng & Siriwut, sp. nov. are provided. Morphological investigation of rostral form suggested plasticity in M. rostrolevatus populations showing the morphological trait associated with their habitat preferences. Furthermore, phylogenetic positions of the three taxa affirmed the hidden diversity of Thai freshwater Macrobrachium fauna correlated with the river network in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, Thailand. The genetic data and distribution records obtained in this study may also assist future river conservation plans as well as the sustainable management of freshwater prawn diversity.