Abstract

• Freshwater prawn Macrobrachium species (Bate, 1868) is a large and cosmopolitan crustacean genus of high economic importance worldwide. The present study was investigated the morphological identification of freshwater prawns of the genus Macrobrachium in the Thanlwin River, Kayin State and their abundant were studied from June 2016 to May 2018. A total of 16 species belonging to two genera under the family Palaemonidae were recorded. Among them, five species; Macrobrachium rosenbergii, M. villosimanus, M. malcolmsonii, M. birmanicum and M. idea were selected to study the seasonal changes of their reproductive condition. Macrobrachium lanchesteri and M. lamarrei were carrying eggs throughout the year while M. malcolmsonii, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and M. villosimanus carried egg from May to November, 2018. The highest numbers of eggs in all prawn species were found in August and September, rainy season. The reproductive condition of the studied prawn species give valuable informing for breeding design and resource conservation programs for Macrobrachium in Myanmar.