MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF SPECIES OF THE EDWARDSII GROUP OF ALPHEUS IN THE NORTHERN GULF-OF-MEXICO AND NORTHWESTERN ATLANTIC (DECAPODA, CARIDEA, ALPHEIDAE)

Ambiguities concerning character variation in species of the edwardsii group of Alpheus led to an investigation of morphometric variation in Alpheus from the northern Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic co asts. Specimens of A. heterochaelis, A. angulatus, and A. estuariensis examined using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed intraspec ific variation attributed to sexual dimorphism, and interspecific vari ation not noted in previous morphological studies.