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¹ Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202
² Department of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh DOI : 10.4194/GA937 Viewed : 177 - Downloaded : 143 Crabs are a diverse and ecologically important group of crustaceans found in both marine and freshwater habitats. Accurate species identification is essential for understanding biodiversity, ecological balance, and conservation management. Traditional morphological taxonomy, based on traits such as carapace shape, cheliped structure, and setal pattern, remains the foundation of classification but is often limited by intraspecific variation, phenotypic plasticity, and cryptic species. To overcome these limitations, this review integrates morphological and molecular approaches to assess their combined effectiveness in crab identification. A systematic review of 117 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Molecular tools, including DNA barcoding using COI and 16S rRNA genes, ITS-1, and RAPD markers, provide higher accuracy and reveal cryptic diversity. The integration of morphological and molecular data enhances taxonomic resolution, confirms species boundaries, and enables detection of invasive and new taxa. Despite these advances, challenges persist due to incomplete genetic databases, lack of standardized protocols, and limited access to affordable sequencing technologies. This review highlights the need for harmonized methodologies and global collaboration to improve crab taxonomy. A holistic approach combining ecological, behavioral, and genetic data is essential for effective biodiversity assessment and conservation. Keywords : Morpho-molecular identification Crabs Morphological analysis Molecular markers Species identification