Classification and published species name
Caridina cantonensis — formally described 1938
Picture-style taxon evidence tree
Wild distribution context
Hong Kong / Southern China
Diagnosis and study methods
Species originally recognized from the region; compared directly with new cryptic C. chui in 2026 paper.
Taxonomic history and relationships
Previously used very broadly in aquarium trade; scientific interpretation requires voucher documentation and correct species distinctions.
Aquarium trade and false look-alikes
Do not assume the legacy label cantonensis proves an individual Bee, Taiwan Bee or OE shrimp is a pure wild C. cantonensis.
Controlled breeding outcome counts
Not a controlled ornamental-breeding study
Molecular color gene evidence
No peer-reviewed commercial color locus assigned to this name by cited taxonomic sources
Conservation / handling caveat
Research identification of a wild species is not a commercial availability announcement. Avoid collecting, purchasing undocumented wild specimens or inferring permissive collecting regulations.
Claim-level original references
- Klotz & von Rintelen (2014), three ornamental-associated Caridina taxa
Peer-reviewed species descriptions; morphology and mtDNA field sampling
- Chow, Chan, Leung & Tsang (2026), three cryptic Hong Kong Caridina
Peer-reviewed original integrative taxonomy, COI and 16S mitochondrial sequences; includes three new species and a nonmonophyly finding