First Record of the Snapping Shrimp Alpheus bisincisus De Haan, 1844 (Decapoda: Alpheidae) from the Southeast Coast of India (Bay of Bengal)
A. Alex Justin *
Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu 608502, India.
M. Thangaraj
Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu 608502, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study provides a detailed morphological characterization of Alpheus bisincisus de Haan, 1844 (Decapoda: Alpheidae), collected as bycatch from Mudasalodai on the southeast coast of India. Morphometric and morphological analyses revealed key diagnostic features, including a distinct rostrum, specialized chelipeds, and characteristic body proportions, which were compared with existing descriptions. Notable morphological differences from the closely related A. chiragricus, particularly in claw structure and rostral shape, are documented. This work represents the first record of A. bisincisus from Tamil Nadu, thereby extending its known distribution along the Indian coastline. These findings contribute valuable baseline data to the understanding of species distribution and morphological variation of snapping shrimps in Indian coastal waters.
Keywords: Alpheus bisincisus, morphometric analysis, Crustacean taxonomy, marine biodiversity, morphological variation