Males of freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium vollenhovenii) were sampled from four rivers in Côte d’Ivoire
to determine whether populations could be discriminated on the basis of morphometric variability. A
total of 260 specimens (65 from each river) were investigated using 21 measurements. Multivariate analyses
were applied to the data. Morphometrics characteristics showed more or less greater discriminatory
power to distinguish individuals from different rivers. Coefficient of variation result revealed globally a
low intra-population variation (CV < 25% for all characters). Multivariates analyses indicated that the four
populations were more or less differentiated on the basis of body characters particularly those related to
the second pereiopod. Cluster analysis showed morphological variation between Bia population and Sassandra,
Bandama and Commé populations was greater, while Sassandra and Bandama specimens were
more morphologically similar. The patterns of morphometric variability in M. vollenhovenii male are
largely determined by the local environmental conditions and distance geographical distance between
sampling sites. If these results are corroborated by further biological evidence (such as geometric morphometry
and genetic) including females, there is a strong argument for subdivision of Côte d’Ivoire stock
of M. vollenhovenii.