Metapenaeus dobsoni (Miers, 1878), an alien Penaeidae in Mozambican coastal waters: confirmation by mtDNA and morphology analyses

Abstract An alien shrimp species has been increasingly recorded in Maputo Bay, Mozambique, and its occurrence has been associated with a drastic reduction of a native and economically important Indian white shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus . Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequencing and body morphology analyses were used to identify this alien species. All results revealed its taxonomic identity as Metapenaeus dobsoni (Kadal shrimp), a native species from the eastern Indian Ocean, originally not recorded on the Mozambique coast. Maputo Bay is considered an important biodiversity hotspot and there are concerns regarding the presence of this alien species, which could weaken the biodiversity of the Bay. Moreover, the increased contribution of this small-size shrimp within the fishery is of concern because of its potential negative impacts on fisheries and economic stability in the region.