Multivariate morphometric differentiation of Macrobrachium species (Crustacea: Palaemonidae) along the northern rivers of Bangladesh

Understanding interspecific morphometric variation is a prerequisite of species identification, evolutionary and taxonomic studies. The external features (i.e. ratios) five Macrobrachium viz., rosenbergii, M. lanchesteri, dolichodactylus, idella lamarrei from three rivers in northern Bangladesh, were used to analyze variation. samples collected Jamuneshwari river, Tangon river Atrai river. Morphometric ratios data subjected univariate ANOVA test. To assess variations among the species, principal component analysis (PCA) canonical variate (CVA) performed. Four PCA explained 95.31% data. CVA correctly classified as 46.53%, 30.02%, 18.10% 5.35% respectively using ratio results formed compact cluster while showed that completely separate cluster. A dendrogram independently developed based on phenotypic traits individuals confirmed presence differentiation. baseline evidence ensuing current study would be advantageous for geometric morphometric, genetic investigations further situ conservation Bangladesh.