Yeo et al., Global diversity of crabs (Crustacea Decapoda Brachyura) in freshwater (2008).pdf

Hydrobiologia (2008) 595:275–286

DOI 10.1007/s10750-007-9023-3

FRESHWATER ANIMAL DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT

Global diversity of crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura)

in freshwater

Darren C. J. Yeo

Peter K. L. Ng

Neil Cumberlidge

C´lio Magalh˜es

Savel R. Daniels

Martha R. Campos

Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007

Abstract An assessment of the global freshwater

crab diversity is presented. A total of 1,476 species in

14 families are currently known from all zoogeo-

graphical regions (except Antarctica), including

1,306 species in eight exclusively freshwater families

(Pseudothelphusidae, Trichodactylidae, Potamonauti-

dae, Deckeniidae, Platythelphusidae, Potamidae,

Gecarcinucidae and Parathelphusidae). Estimates of

true freshwater crab diversity including likely num-

bers of undescribed taxa suggest that the ﬁeld remains

largely in a ‘‘discovery’’ phase. Main ideas on the

origins, diversiﬁcation, and phylogeny of true fresh-

water crabs are brieﬂy discussed. The economic

importance of freshwater crabs is also highlighted.

Keywords Global assessment

Freshwater crab

Diversity

Crustacea

Decapoda

Brachyura

Species estimates

Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. L ´ v ˆ que, H. Segers &

K. Martens

Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment

Introduction

D. C. J. Yeo ( & ) P. K. L. Ng

Department of Biological Sciences, National University

of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543,

Republic of Singapore

e-mail: darrenyeo@nus.edu.sg

Of the more than 6,700 known species of brachyuran

crabs, over 1,300 are true freshwater crabs. True

freshwater crabs are regarded as those that have

adopted freshwater, semi-terrestrial or terrestrial

modes of life, and are characterized by their ability

to complete their life cycle independently of the

marine environment. These crabs are currently

assigned to eight exclusively freshwater families—

Pseudothelphusidae and Trichodactylidae (Mexico,

Central and South America), Potamonautidae (Africa

and Madagascar), Deckeniidae and Platythelphusidae

(East Africa), Potamidae (North Africa, southern

Europe, Asia), Gecarcinucidae (Seychelles, Asia),

and Parathelphusidae (Asia, Australasia) (Martin &

Davis, 2001). Wholly or primary freshwater taxa

undergo direct development in which the large, yolky

eggs hatch directly into juvenile crabs. Crabs found in

N. Cumberlidge

Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University,

Marquette, MI 49855, USA

C. Magalh˜es

Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazˆnia, Caixa

postal 478, Manaus 69011-970 Amazonas, Brazil

S. R. Daniels

Department of Botany and Zoology, University of

Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602,

South Africa

M. R. Campos

Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de

Colombia, Apartado A´reo, Bogota 103698, Colombia

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