Freshwater Prawn Diversity
Major
projects | Further readings
Freshwater prawns are very common
in the region and are often dominant in all kinds
of water bodies. They are ecologically significant
and several species are commercially important for
food.
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The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii.
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The
problems with their taxonomy and identification, however,
are such that the identification of these animals
by non-specialists (and even specialists in many cases)
is extremely difficult.
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The ongoing studies endeavour to
better understand variation in the members of the
genus, their larval development as well as derive
useful keys. Studies are also ongoing for members
of the palaemonid genera Palaemon and Exopalaemon.
Only after their taxonomy is well understood can studies
of their zoogeography and phylogeny progress.
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The long-armed prawn, Macrobrachium idae (Palaemonidae),
from Pulau Tioman.
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The revisionary studies on the freshwater
prawns of the families Palaemonidae is progressing
well with two graduate students working on the fauna
from China to western Indonesia and Burma. The work
is focused on the genus Macrobrachium, a very
difficult and highly speciose genus.
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Concurrent studies of various groups
of Atyidae (mainly members of the genus Caridina)
are also ongoing. The genus is highly speciose and
their difficult taxonomy is also a challenge. The
fact that they are often collected in large numbers
with Macrobrachium does not help!
 
The torrent prawn (left), Atyopsis moluccensis
(Atyidae), from Java, and the
common filter-feeding shrimp (right), Caridina
temasek, which was first described
from Singapore but is also common in southern Malaysia.
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The recently discovered
freshwater snapping shrimp (left), Alpheus cyanoteles
(Alpheidae), first described from Malaysia.
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Major projects:
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