Molecular phylogeny of the freshwater prawn genus Macrobrachium (Decapoda, Palaemonidae), with emphasis on the relationships among selected American species

Abstract

The genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 is one of the best examples of widespread crustacean genera distributed globally throughout tropical and subtropical waters. Previous investigators have noted the systematic complexity of the group, and have suggested rearrangements within the family Palaemonidae. Our phylogenetic analysis of new mitochondrial DNA sequences of 58 species of Macrobrachium distributed mainly in America support the hypothesis of monophyly of this genus, if Cryphiops Dana, 1852 is accepted as a generic synonym. We concluded that the independent evolution of different types of life cycle (abbreviated larval development – ALD and extended larval development – ELD) must have occurred more than once in the history of the group. Similarly, we also concluded that the current type species of the genus, Macrobrachium americanum Bate, 1868, should not be considered valid, as previously proposed. The synonymy of two members of the ‘olfersi’ species complex (M. birai Lobão, Melo & Fernandes, 1986 and M. holthuisi Genofre & Lobão, 1978) with M. olfersi (Wiegmann, 1836) was confirmed. Similar results were found in comparing M. petronioi Melo, Lobão & Fernandes, 1986 and M. potiuna (Müller, 1880), in which the genetic divergence placed M. petronioi within the level of intraspecific variation of M. potiuna. The taxonomic status of the genus Cryphiops, as well as theories on the origin of Macrobrachium, is also called into question.

Phylogenetic relationships among the freshwater genera of palaemonid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) from Mexico: evidence of multiple invasions

“…The close relationship between Macrobrachium and Cryphiops has already been described by Pileggi & Mantelatto (2010), whose results of a phylogenetic analysis show C. brasiliensis and C. caementarius completely nested within the diversity of species of Macrobrachium. However, it is interesting to note that M. tuxtlaense appears in our analysis more closely related to P. chryseus than to Cryphiops spp., even when important morphological differences, such as the presence of a mandibular palp in Macrobrachium and The Palaemon/Palaemonetes clade confirms their morphological similarity showing the mixing of species of both genera (Walker & Poore, 2003).…”

Oxygen consumption remains stable while ammonia excretion is reduced upon short time exposure to high salinity in Macrobrachium acanthurus (Caridae: Palaemonidae), a recent freshwater colonizer

“…The response may also be called a hypo-conformation, as in Moreira et al (1983) for M.acanthurus and other species of the genus. This strong tolerance to increases in salinity is in fact expected from the components of a clade that has invaded the freshwater relatively recently (Murphy and Austin 2005, Augusto et al 2007a, b, 2009, Pileggi and Mantelatto 2010, Collins et al 2011, McNamara and Faria 2012.…”

“…The family Palaemonidae has a marine origin and passed through various independent events of freshwater invasion (Murphy and Austin 2005, Ashelby et al 2012, McNamara and Faria 2012, Anger 2013. These events have occurred quite recently, ~30 mya (Tertiary), and are still happening (Murphy and Austin 2005, Augusto et al 2007a, b, 2009, Pileggi and Mantelatto 2010, Collins et al 2011, McNamara and Faria 2012. The family comprises about 116 genera.…”

Extension of the known distribution of Aegla strinatii Türkay, 1972 and a checklist of decapod crustaceans (Aeglidae, Palaemonidae and Trichodactylidae) from the Jacupiranga State Park, South of São Paulo State, Brazil

“…Among all five genera within this family Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 is the most representative with 17 species reported from Brazilian territory Mossolin et al, 2010). Currently, 10 of these species are recorded from the State of São Paulo (Melo, 2003;Pileggi and Mantelatto, 2010).…”