MORPHOTYPES IN MALES CINNAMON RIVER PRAWNS Macrobrachium acanthurus (WIEGMANN, 1836)    

Macrobrachium male prawns often present morphotypes differentiation, which may influence farming management. We studied Macrobrachium acanthurus prawns from the Parnaiba River Delta, Northeast Region in Brazil, to verify the occurrence of morphotypes. Animals were weighted and analyzed according to color. Additionally, we measured body, chelipod parts and its angles. Then, animals were classified into classes of size, color and spination. Data were subjected to normality and homocedasticity tests prior to ANOVA. Multivariate (Principal Components) and relative growth analyses were also conducted. Results indicate that three distinct groups of males compose the population of this species of prawn: BLC (Blue Claw), BRC (Brown Claw) and TRC (Translucent Claw), which differ in morphology of chelipods and many morphometric relations.