Molecular Phylogeny of Decapod Crustaceans

The molecular phylogeny of decapod crustaceans has transformed our understanding of the evolution, classification and conservation of shrimps, prawns, lobsters and related taxa. By comparing sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, researchers have reconstructed robust phylogenetic trees that reconcile morphological and molecular evidence, uncover cryptic diversity and clarify long-standing taxonomic ambiguities. High-throughput sequencing and integrative approaches now allow the analysis of dozens of loci across hundreds of species, providing insights into the timing of key divergences, biogeographical dispersal and the origins of economically important clades. Molecular clocks calibrated with fossil records have dated major splits within Penaeoidea and Caridea, while DNA barcoding surveys have revealed putative new taxa and highlighted conservation priorities. This work has direct applications in sustainable fisheries management, biosecurity monitoring and the study of adaptive radiations in novel habitats such as deep-sea or estuarine environments.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have applied an integrative multigene and morphological framework to resolve species boundaries within commercially and ecologically important penaeid shrimps. By sequencing mitochondrial markers (COI and 16S rRNA) alongside detailed examinations of microstructure under electron microscopy, five distinct genetic lineages were delineated within a key genus, leading to the formal description of two new species. This work exemplifies how combined molecular and morphological datasets can uncover hidden diversity, redefine genus-level taxonomy and provide a stable foundation for subsequent ecological and evolutionary investigations.

Molecular Phylogeny of Decapod Crustaceans publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular phylogeny of decapod crustaceans across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Molecular marker: A specific DNA sequence used to compare genetic variation among organisms.

Cytochrome oxidase I (COI): A mitochondrial gene commonly used in DNA barcoding to identify species and infer relationships.

Cryptic species: Distinct evolutionary lineages that are morphologically similar and historically regarded as a single species.

Integrative taxonomy: The use of multiple data types (molecular, morphological, ecological) to delimit and describe species.

Phylogenetic tree: A diagram representing the inferred evolutionary relationships among taxa based on genetic or morphological data.

References

1. A multigene and morphological analysis expands the diversity of the seabod shrimp Xiphopenaeus Smith, 1869 (Decapoda: Penaeidae), with descriptions of two new species. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. Genetic variation and cryptic lineage among the sergestid shrimp Acetes americanus (Decapoda). PeerJ (2023).
3. Systematic and Evolutionary Insights Derived from mtDNA COI Barcode Diversity in the Decapoda (Crustacea: Malacostraca). PLOS ONE (2011).
4. A New Shrimp Genus (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Deep Atlantic and an Unusual Cleaning Mechanism of Pelagic Decapods. Diversity (2021).