Molecular identification of genus Scylla (Decapoda: Portunidae) based on DNA barcoding and polymerase chain reaction

► We first examined the utility of COI sequences as DNA barcoding for identification of genus Scylla. ► The interspecific K2P distances were higher than the intraspecific distances. ► No overlap was found between intraspecific and interspecific distances. ► A molecular species identification method based on PCR was developed successfully.