Application of integrative taxonomy combining phylogenetic and geometric morphometric techniques in a snapping shrimp (AlpheusFabricius, 1798) species complex (Decapoda: Caridea: Alpheidae).

This article focuses on the application of an integrative taxonomic approach combining molecular genetics and geometric morphometrics to investigate the Alpheus gracilipes species complex, a group of snapping shrimps in the genus Alpheus. Using three mitochondrial genes (12S, COI, and 16S) for phylogenetic reconstruction and landmark-based geometric morphometric analyses of the major chela and rostrum, the study identified two previously unrecognized cryptic species within specimens identified as A. gracilipes. The research presents the first molecular phylogeny of this species complex, demonstrates the taxonomic value of major chela and rostrum morphology, and reports expanded geographic distributions for several species. These findings highlight the effectiveness of combining genetic and morphological data to resolve species boundaries in morphologically similar crustaceans.