REPORT OF MORPHOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN MACROBRACHIUM AMAZONICUM (HELLER, 1862) (CARIDEA, PALAEMONIDAE) FROM THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON PROVINCE

We report morphological abnormalities for the specimens of Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862) collected from the Amazon province in the State of Para, Brazil, using a local trap called matapi at the lower Tocantins River, from June 2004 to May 2005. After sampling, the specimens were sorted out, fixed in ethanol and deposited in the carcinological collection of the Crustaceans Laboratory at the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazonia (UFRA) and the Center for Research and Management of Fishery Resources of the North Coast (CEPNOR/ICMBio). Three individuals showed morphological anomalies in the rostrum and telson. This is the first record of such morphological abnormalities for this species, but further investigation is needed to establish the cause of these anomalies in the region.

Automated summary

This study reports morphological abnormalities in the specimens of Macrobrachium amazonicum collected from the lower Tocantins River in the State of Para, Brazil. Three individuals showed abnormal morphology in their rostrum and telson. This is the first record of such abnormalities in this species, but further investigation is needed to understand the cause.