Comparative morphological analysis of telson and uropods in Penaeus canaliculatus (Olivier, 1811), Penaeus semisulcatus (De Haan, 1844), and Metapenaeus stebbingi (Nobili, 1904) using scanning electron microscopy and EDX analysis

• Published in: Micron (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 181; p. 103636
• Main Authors: Rashwan, Ahmed M., El-Gendy, Samir A.A., Alsafy, Mohamed A.M., Haddad, Seham S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2024
• Subjects: EDX; Endopod; SEM; Shrimp; Telson; Uropod; C; O Conc; C Conc; Ca Conc; Endopod; N; N Conc; Telson; O; P; Uropod; P Conc; EDX; SEM; Ca; Shrimp
• ISSN: 0968-4328; 1878-4291; 1878-4291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2024.103636

The telson and uropods collectively form the tail fan, playing crucial roles in locomotion, buoyancy, defense, and respiration. We aimed to compare telson and uropod structures in three shrimp species—Penaeus canaliculatus, Penaeus semisulcatus, and Metapenaeus stebbingi—to identify the species with the most robust telson for its environment. Our analysis involved morphological measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), supplemented by a novel approach—Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, a technique not previously utilized in studies on these three species. M. stebbingi exhibited the longest telson length, whereas P. semisulcatus had the longest uropod. P. canaliculatus featured a single pair of fixed spines, while P. semisulcatus had evenly spaced small conical spines along the sides of the median elevation and groove. A distinctive feature of M. stebbingi was the telson, which had three pairs of large spines. Diverse setae on telsons included simple, unipennate, and plumose setae. Notably, specialized branched tubular setae on uropods' endopods may aid in grooming or swimming behavior. EDX spectroscopy revealed that the telson cuticle primarily consists of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, with significantly high concentrations alongside comparatively lower calcium and phosphorous concentrations. P. semisulcatus exhibited the highest calcium and phosphorus content among the three species. In conclusion, M. stebbingi's telson is structurally robust, emphasizing the importance of morphology, while P. semisulcatus demonstrated a hard telson through EDX analysis. Our study underscores not solely relying on morphology for telson strength assessment but considering telson composition. These variations among species may be attributed to diverse ecological and physiological adaptations. [Display omitted] •This study examine the telson and uropods in three shrimp species—Penaeus canaliculatus, Penaeus semisulcatus, and Metapenaeus stebbingi.•By combining SEM and EDX analyses, the study uncovers nuanced morphological features of the telson and uropods.•The research provides comprehensive morphometric measurements of the telson and uropods across the three shrimp species.•The study reveals species-specific patterns in the presence, distribution, and characteristics of telson spines.•The observed morphological variations in the telson and uropods prompt intriguing possibilities about their role in ritualized fighting and behavior.