Macrobrachium lanchesteri (De Man, 1911)

Cai, Y., Naiyanetr, P. & Ng, P. K. L., 2004, The freshwater prawns of the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868, of Thailand (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae), Journal of Natural History 38 (5), pp. 581-649 : 586-589

Macrobrachium lanchesteri (De Man, 1911)

Palaemon paucidens Lanchester, 1902: 568 , pl. 33, figure 4 [not De Haan, 1841; type locality:

Songkla, southern Thailand]. Palaemon (Eupalaemon) Lanchesteri De Man, 1911: 264 ; Kemp, 1918a: 257. Macrobrachium lanchesteri: Suvatti, 1937: 49 ; 1967: 139; Holthuis, 1950: 139; 1980: 96;

Johnson, 1961: 56; 1966a: 279; 1966b: 423; Lumubol, 1980: 502, figure; Naiyanetr, 1980:

17, 1992: 17; 1998: 32; Chong and Khoo, 1988: 196; Wong, 1994: 297; Cai and Ng, in press. Macrobrachium cf. lanchesteri: Ng, 1995: 75 , figure 2. Cryphiops (Macrobrachium) lanchesteri: Johnson, 1968: 233 . Macrobrachium lar: Kamita, 1966: 138 . Macrobrachium palaemonoides: Naiyanetr, 1992: 33 (not M. palaemonoides Holthuis, 1950 ).

Material examined

North Thailand. Seven specimens, cl 5.5–9.0 mm ( ZRC 2000.2605 ), Mae Jio , 10 km from Chiang Mai, with water hyacinth, mud bank and substratum, warm and slightly flowing water, 18°58∞25.6◊N, 99°14∞34.1◊E, pH 8.0, coll. Y. Cai, 13 June 1998 ; six specimens ( ZRC 2000 . 2610), forest stream 95 km north from Nan town, Nan Province, about 15–20 km north from Ban Pon, Nam Gae, north of Ban Sala , near the border with Laos, coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 11 June 1998 ; 1 ovigerous X, cl 12 mm, 20 juvenile specimens ( ZRC 2000.2622 ), Mae Nam Ping river , Chiang Mai, coll. Y. Cai, 13 June 1998 ; 20 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2606 ), Ban Tho Market, outskirt of Chiang Mai city, Mae Nam Ping river , coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 13 June 1998 ; 12 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2624 ), Mae Nam Ping river, 1–1.5 km below the Nakhon Phing Bridge of Chiang Mai city, water warm, turbid, mud bank, slow flowing, 18°58∞25.6◊N, 99°14∞34.1◊E, pH 8.0, coll Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 13 June 1998 ; 10 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2613 ), Ban Tho Market, outskirt of Chiang Mai city, caught from Mae Nam Ping river , coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 13 June 1998 ; 10 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2607 ), Mae Nam Kham river on the way to Mae Sai , 20°7∞31.7◊N, 99°39∞1.7◊E, pH 7.8, coll. Y. Cai et al., 12 June 1998 ; 14 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2609 ), Chiang Rai market, coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 13 June 1998 ; 1 W, 1 X (CU 1997.194), coll. Loez, 11 March 1985.

West Thailand. Twenty-one specimens (CU 1997.86), Phrae, coll. P. Naiyanetr, 25 April 1980 ; 3 WW, cl 17.0– 18.5 mm (CU 1997.87), Tha Song Yang, Tak, 17 May 1985 ; 9 ovigerous XX, cl 7.0– 7.5 mm, eggs 0.9× 0.6 mm ( ZRC 2000.2626 ), Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thap Sakae District, stream under bridge of road to Ban Wong Hoi , 11°26∞54.8◊N, 99°28∞58.2◊E, coll. D. Yeo et al., 13 August 1997; 16 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2615 ) , Mae Sot, Mae Nam Moi , border with Myanmar Karen state, 16°41.22∞N, 98°30.90∞E, coll. H. H. Tan and H. H. Ng, 26 May 1999 .

Central Thailand. Twenty-five ovigerous XX, cl 5.8–6.7 mm, egg size 0.8× 0.7 mm, 86 small specimens ( ZRC 2000.2612 ), Lop Buri Province, Chai Badan , coll. Y. Cai, 20 June 1998 ; 21 specimens, cl 8.2–9.9 mm (CU 1997.196), Nakhon Nayok, 12 October 1980 ; 10 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2608 ), Lam Thakong, outlet of dam at upper Mae Nam Mun, way from Sara Buri to Ratchasima , coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 16 June 1998 ; 25 specimens (11 ovigerous XX) (CU 1997.198), Phetchabun, 12 January 1980 ; 2 WW, cl 11.6–12.0 mm (CU 1997.200) Nakhon Nayok; 42 specimens (4 ovigerous XX), cl 6.9–10.4 mm (CU), Nakhon Nayok, 1 November 1978 ; 67 specimens (4 ovigerous XX), cl 5.1–9.8 mm (CU 1997.203), Kamphaeng Phet, 2 September 1986 ; 46 specimens (11 ovigerous XX), cl 6.9–9.8 mm (CU), Nonthaburi, 14 November 1978 ; 75 specimens, cl 6.2–10.5 mm (CU 1997.205), Uthaithani , 26 September 1979 ; 16 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2621 ), stream 15 km from Sara Buri, outside a temple, coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 20 June 1998 ; 45 specimens, cl 6.2–9.5 mm (CU), Ayuthaya , 25 June 1983 ; 36 specimens (4 ovigerous XX), cl 6.4–10.8 mm (CU 1997.202), Ayuthaya , 5 January 1979 ; 75 specimens, cl 5.3–9.0 mm (CU 1997.207), Ayuthaya , 21 September 1982 ; 28 specimens (4 ovigerous XX), cl 10.0–14.0 mm (CU 1997.208), Ayuthaya ; 58 specimens, cl 7.4–9.7 mm, 51 other specimens, cl 6.3–10.5 mm (CU 1997.209), Lop Buri, 7 October 1980 ; 6 ovigerous XX, cl 8.7–10.3 mm, 32 other specimens (CU 1997.211), Ang-thong , 22 March 1981 ; 90 specimens, cl 5.0– 6.6 mm (CU 1997.212), Nakhon Nayok, 11 November 1977 ; 13 specimens (11 ovigerous XX), cl 5.3–12.0 mm (CU 1997.213), Ang Thong, 8 June 1979 ; 23 specimens, cl 5.3–12.0 mm (CU 1997.214), Sing Buri, 8 June 1980 ; 65 specimens, cl 6.3–11.9 mm (CU 1997.216), Ayuthaya , 22 March 1981 ; 21 specimens (19 ovigerous XX), cl 6.6–9.9 mm, Sukhothai (CU 1997.217), 3 October 1980 ; 42 specimens, cl 6.5–9.3 mm (CU 1997.218), Lop Buri, 23 November 1980 ; 126 specimens, cl 5.8–8.8 mm (CU 1997.219), Phichit, 2 October 1980 ; 28 ovigerous XX, cl 8.6–13.9 mm, six other specimens, cl 6.4–10.8 mm (CU 1997.220), Phetchatbun , 19 October 1980 ; 21 specimens (one ovigerous X), cl 7.0– 11.4 mm (CU), Singburi, 22 November 1979 ; 2 WW, cl 8.0– 10.5 mm ( ZRC 2000.2723 ), road-side market 27 km from Nakhon Phenom , coll. Y. Cai, 17 June 1998 .

North-east Thailand. Thirty-eight WW, cl 9.0–16.0 mm, 12 XX, cl 8.8–14.5 mm, 23 ovigerous XX, cl 9.4–14.5 mm ( ZRC 2000.2638 ), Warin Chamrap Market, coll. Y. Cai, 17 June 1998 ; 1 W, cl 6.5 mm, 3 XX, cl 6.5–9.5 mm ( ZRC 2000.2620 ), Mae Nam Khek, East of Ban Bo , at km 42 on road from Phitsanulok to Loei, coll. M. Kottelat and K. Kubota, 29 January 1999 ; 1 W, cl 6.2 mm, 2 XX, cl 7.0–9.0 mm, 2 ovigerous XX, cl 8.0– 9.5 mm ( ZRC 1997.118 ), Nakhon Ratchasima Province, irrigation pond, road 2310 from Korat to Bangkok (9 km Chok Chai, 37 km Chiburi ), unmarked trail, 14°48∞47.9◊N, 102°9∞9.9◊E, coll. H. H. Tan et al., 16 June 1997; 10 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2611 ) , Ban Nan Khaisat, artificial lake for rice field, 50 km to Bung Kan , 18°13∞26.2◊N, 104°02∞07.1◊E, coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 18 June 1998; 35 specimens , cl 6.5–8.0 mm ( ZRC 2000.2616 ), waterfall (22 km turn off from main road), 15°38∞59.0◊N, 101°25∞9.0◊E, coll. Y. Cai et al., 20 June 1998; 20 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2614 ) , Phibun Mangsahan Market, 46 km east to Ubon Rachathani , coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 17 June 1998; 20 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2617 ) , Ban Phaeng, small dugout stream behind the village, draining into Mekong river , fast flowing, grass, mud bank, 17°57∞26.2◊N, 104°13∞18.3◊E, coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 18 June 1998; 30 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2618 ) , Khon Kean Market , coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 19 June 1998; 20 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2623 ) , artificial lake on the way to Chai Ya Pun, 82 km north of Khon Kean , with water lily, 16°22∞19.6◊N, 102°07∞49.4◊E, coll. Y. Cai and Y. Y. Goh, 20 June 1998; 20 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2726 ) , small stream at 19 km to Amnat Charoen, with water lilies, pH 7.1, 16°54∞39.6◊N, 104°09∞09.6◊E, coll. Y. Cai et al., 17 June 1998 .

East Thailand. One W, cl 7.8 mm, 1 X, cl 8.5 mm , four juveniles ( ZRC 1997.114 ), Trat Province, Klong Kwan near Ban Klong Kwan (village), 12°19∞36.6◊N, 102°38∞6.5◊E, coll. H. H. Tan et al.; 1 W, 1 X (CU), Chanthaburi, 9 February 1990 ; two specimens (CU 1997.169), Rayong, coll. S. Panha, 6 December 1981 ; 15 specimens ( ZRC 2000.2728 ), lake 98 km from Buri Ram to Ubon Rachathani , coll. Y. Cai et al., 16 June 1998 .

South Thailand. One X, cl 8.2 mm, 1 X, cl 7.0 mm ( ZRC 2000.2619 ), Narathiwat Province, padi fields along road from Narathiwat to Bacho, near Yi Ngo , 6°24.4∞N, 101°24.7∞E, coll. H. H. Tan et al., 24 October 1998 ; 2 WW, cl 4.2–7.2 mm, 2 XX, cl 6.5–7.5 mm, 2 ovigerous XX, cl 8.0– 8.2 mm, eggs 1.1× 0.8 mm ( ZRC 2000.2625 ), Narathiwat Province, Phikuntha, Mae Nam Wan, Nara. 6°23.30∞N, 101°52.23∞E, pH 6.0, coll. H. H. Tan et al., 15 January 1997 ; 1 W, cl 12.0 mm (CU), Phang Nga, 20 February 1987 ; 2 WW, cl 8.0–9.0 mm, 9 XX, cl 8.0–11.0 mm (CU 1997.26), Ton Sai waterfall, Thalang, Phuket, 10 December 1987 ; 1 X, cl 12.0 mm (CU 1997.27), Takua Thung river , Phnag Nga, 27 June 1986 ; 3 WW, cl 5.0–7.0 mm, 1 X, cl 9.5 mm (CU 1997.28), Thalang, Phuket, 5 May 1986 ; 6 XX cl 6.0–10.0 mm (CU 1997.29), Kapong, 21 September 1986; 1 X, cl 10.0 mm, Takua Pa river , near sea, 21 September 1986 ; 6 WW, cl 5.0–10.0 mm, 2 XX, cl 9.0–12.0 mm (CU 1997.32), river near the sea, Thai Muang, Phang Nga, 28 August 1986 ; 1 W, cl 6.0 mm, 6 XX, cl 7.0–9.0 mm (CU 1997.33), Thai Muang, Phang Nga, 17 September 1989 ; 2 XX, cl 6.5 mm (CU 1997.35), Tao Tong waterfall, Thap Put , Phang Nga, 18 December 1987; one specimen (CU 1997.85) , Phang Nga, 7 September 1986 ; numerous juveniles, Phathalung , 2 April 1982 ; 65 ovigerous XX, cl 7.3–10.6 mm, 28 other specimens, cl 5.4–8.9 mm (CU 1997.215), Phathalung, 27 October 1982.

Thai specimens with no specific locality. Twenty-seven specimens (three ovigerous XX), cl 5.7–8.3 mm (CU 1997.221).

Remarks

Macrobrachium lanchesteri was originally described from southern Thailand (Lanchester, 1902; De Man, 1911), and has also been reported from central Thailand and peninsular Malaysia, with a doubtful record from Sabah in Borneo (Suvatti, 1937; Johnson, 1961, 1968; Chong and Khoo, 1988; Ng, 1995). Its general biology (Johnson, 1968), larval development (Wong, 1994) and taxonomy (Chong and Khoo, 1988) are better understood than almost any other species in South-East Asia except perhaps M. rosenbergii . Macrobrachium lanchesteri is a hardy species, adapting well to almost all kinds of freshwater bodies, e.g. rice field, ponds, reservoirs, streams and rivers. It is the most common species in Thailand, and is sold in markets all over Thailand, mainly for food.

Naiyanetr (1998: 33) listed M. palaemonoides Holthuis, 1950 , from Thailand. His specimens from Surin, north-eastern Thailand, were re-examined and they are actually M. lanchesteri instead. Macrobrachium palaemonoides is known with certainty only from the type locality in Laut Tawar, Laulo Lake, northern Simaloer, off the west coast of Sumatra (Holthuis, 1950; Chace and Bruce, 1993). Kamita (1974: 6) reported M. palaemonoides from Nepal but this record should be rechecked. According to Kamita’s description and figures, it is most probably M. lamarrei (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) instead.

Macrobrachium lanchesteri have recently been found from Myanmar (Cai and Ng, in press), southern China (Y. Cai, personal observation) and Java, Indonesia (D. Wowor, personal communication).