IS24084Does morphological diversity in amphidromous Macrobrachium (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) reflect species homology or habitat partitioning?




We apply rigorous taxonomic and phylogenetic frameworks to shed light on both the taxonomy and evolution of amphidromous freshwater shrimps. Automatic species delineation methods based on molecular data revealed the existence of several species complexes within Macrobrachium. Results suggest habitat-driven speciation modes, where species differentiate in similar habitats distributed across the Indo-Pacific. The morphology of amphidromous Macrobrachium reflects numerous conserved adaptations to flow velocity. (Image credit: Valentin de Mazancourt.)