List of freshwater crabs of Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka is an island close to the southern end of India with a tropical environment. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are about two million species of arthropods found in the world, and still it is counting with many new species still being discovered. It is very complicated and difficult to summarize the exact number of species found within a certain region.

The following list provide the freshwater crabs of Sri Lanka.

Freshwater crabs

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda

Sri Lanka's freshwater crab fauna is extremely important to the island, due to its endemism. All recorded 51 species, along with five genera, are totally endemic to Sri Lanka. [1] [2] 98% of those crabs are IUCN categorized as threatened, endangered or critically endangered animals due to habitat declining, capturing for food, illegal collecting and exotic species. [3] [4]

Family: Gecarcinucidae

Related Research Articles

Ceylonthelphusa alpina is a species of freshwater crabs in the family Gecarcinucidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka, and is classed as an endangered due to habitat degradation.

Ceylonthelphusa armata is a species of freshwater crabs in the family Gecarcinucidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka, and is classed as an endangered due to habitat degradation.

Clinothelphusa kakoota is a species of crab in the family Gecarcinucidae, which is endemic to Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss, and is listed as a critically endangered species on the IUCN Red List. It is known from a single site with an area of less than 100 km2 (39 sq mi). Its nearest relatives are another Sri Lankan endemic genus of crabs, Ceylonthelphusa.

Mahatha is a genus of freshwater crabs endemic to Sri Lanka. Four of the six species are critically endangered due to habitat loss, and two are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Parathelphusinae Subfamily of crabs

Parathelphusinae is a subfamily of freshwater crabs, which was formerly placed in the family Parathelphusidae; they are mainly found in South and Southeast Asia, but also found elsewhere in Asia and in Australia

Perbrinckia is a genus of freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka, named after Per Brinck. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and rivers. It contains 14 species, most of which are included on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered species (CR) or vulnerable species (VU) because they are threatened by habitat loss; only one species is of least concern (LC).

Gecarcinucidae Family of crabs

The Gecarcinucidae are a family of true freshwater crabs. The family Parathelphusidae is now demoted to the rank of subfamily, as the Parathelphusinae, within the Gecarcinucidae. "Family" Parathelphusidae is now considered as a junior synonym.

Wildlife of Sri Lanka includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world.

Rohan Pethiyagoda

Rohan David Pethiyagoda, is one of Sri Lanka's leading naturalists and a taxonomist on Freshwater fish of Sri Lanka.

Oziotelphusa ceylonensis is a species of freshwater crabs in the family Parathelphusidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species is not threatened in their habitats, where they observed to be survive well in man-made settlements as well. The species was discovered from nine localities around Kandy hills. The preferred habitats are embankments of paddy fields, where many irrigation canals constructed to provide continuous supply of water to the field.

Oziotelphusa stricta is a species of freshwater crabs in the family Gecarcinucidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species was initially categorized as Near Threatened by the finders, but recent observations included to vulnerable by IUCN Red List due to less abundance is observed localities and much restricted ecology.

Perbrinckia gabadagei is a species of freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species was once categorized as vulnerable by founders, but now considered to be critically endangered and probably extinct due to lack of recent evidences since 1996. The species first found from Adam's Peak area. It is very rarely found, and known to live under moist soil, and near water sources.

Perbrinckia glabra is a species of freshwater crab of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species is categorized as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List due to their single locality in Horton Plains National Park. Perbrinckia glabra is found primarily under rocks and boulders near shallow streams. Major threats to this species include habitat loss and pollution.

Perbrinckia integra is a species of freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species is categorized as vulnerable by founders due to habitat destruction and human interference. The species is found around Adam's Peak area only. It is found, and known to live under moist rocks, and near water sources.

Perbrinckia scitula is a species of freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka. the species is categorized as critically endangered by founders due to their two localities where not protected by law. Very small number can be found among human habitations. The species distributed along Mahaweli River basin, around Deltota and Talawakelle areas.

Perbrinckia uva is a species of freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka tree crab,, is a species of freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae that is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is the only known tree climbing freshwater crab found in the country. The crab is discovered from 11 localities from Sri Lanka throughout Kalu River, Walawe River and Gin River basins. Adult are known to survive well in rainwater-filled tree hollows of trees such as Shorea sp., Artocarpus sp., Dillenia sp., Garcinia sp., Myristica sp., and Gyrinops walla. Females with youngs can be seen during February and March on the ground, never within tree hollows. The known predators are Greater coucal, White-throated kingfisher, Sri Lanka grey hornbill and Eurasian otter.

References

  1. Bambaradeniya, Channa N. B. (2006). The Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research, and Conservation. Amazon.com. ISBN   9789558177518 . Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. Bandara, I.N. "Endemic Fresh Water Crabs of Sri Lanka". slendemics.net. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  3. Rodrigo, Malaka. "Endemic freshwater crabs under threat, need protection: Experts". the Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  4. "40 species of freshwater crab in Sri Lanka face extinction". Bailaman. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  5. "The One and Only Tree-climbing Freshwater Crab in Sri Lanka". Gallicissa. Retrieved 5 June 2016.

Bibliography