DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis of deep-sea caridean shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) from the southern coast of India

Knowledge on the molecular and morphological traits of deep-sea caridean shrimps from Indian waters is still sparse. This study clarifies their phylogenetic relationships and builds a DNA barcode reference using two mitochondrial markers: COI and 16S rRNA. Specimens collected during 2014-2019 across major landing centres in Kerala and Tamil Nadu yielded 15 species spanning the genera Plesionika, Heterocarpus, Acanthephyra, Oplophorus, Parapontocaris, Pontocaris, Pasiphaea, and Glyphocrangon. The dataset includes 121 sequences (57 COI, 64 16S), all validated through NCBI BLAST searches. This forms the first comprehensive barcode library for deep-sea caridean shrimps from the region, supporting accurate species identification and future work on their evolution and biogeography and key for both ecological understanding and resource management.