From rivers to museums: 28S rDNA as a tool for molecular identification of Amazon palaemonids prawns.

Morphological identification of Palaemonidae prawns often proves challenging due to the overlap in their characteristics. In this study, we evaluated the utility of 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences as a molecular tool for accurately identifying prawns within this family. Specimens were sourced from scientific collections in the Brazilian Amazon, and sequences obtained from these samples were prioritized for constructing a reference sequence database. The efficacy of the 28S rDNA was then assessed by analyzing sequences within the reference database and applying it to identify samples from the Amazonas and Tapajós rivers. Our species delimitation analyses provided accurate molecular identification, revealing the potential of 28S rDNA sequences in addressing taxonomic inconsistencies. Notably, the results uncovered misclassifications among some specimens deposited in scientific collections, emphasizing the importance of molecular tools in refining Palaemonidae taxonomy in the Amazon.