Parathelphusinae | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Family: | Gecarcinucidae |
Subfamily: | Parathelphusinae Alcock, 1910 |
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. The family is now considered as a junior synonym of the family Gecarcinucidae. [1]
The Parathelphusinae inhabit rivers, lakes and rice paddies. Some species, for example from the genus Somanniathelphusa , are locally important as food, particularly in Thailand, Mizoram (India), etc. where they are an important ingredient in som tam . Some others are very rare and close to extinction such as the Parathelphusa reticulata, Singapore's Swamp Forest Crab. [2]
Genera in this family are: [2]
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 callista is a species of freshwater crabs in the family Gecarcinucidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka and is known from the Knuckles Mountain Range. It was found on wet boulders on the margins of a slow-flowing stream at an elevation of 915 m (3,000 ft) above sea level.
Spiralothelphusa fernandoi is a species of crab in the family Gecarcinucidae.
Gecarcinucoidea is a superfamily of freshwater crabs. Its members have been grouped into families in various ways, with some authors recognizing families such as "Deckeniidae", "Sundathelphusidae", and "Parathelphusidae", but now only the family Gecarcinucidae is currently recognized.
The Gecarcinucidae are a family of true freshwater crabs. They are found throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia and New Guinea, with a single genus found in Australia.
Somanniathelphusa is a genus of freshwater crabs found in southeast China, Taiwan, and southeast Asia. It includes the following species:
Deckenia is a genus of freshwater crabs from East Africa, in the family Potamonautidae, or sometimes in a family of its own, Deckeniidae. The genus was named by Hilgendorf after Karl Klaus von der Decken who collected the first examples during his expeditions to Africa. Both species live in swamps from Eyl in Somalia to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, both in coastal areas and further inland. A third species, Deckenia alluaudi, lives in the Seychelles, and has been transferred to a separate genus, Seychellum.
Around 1,300 species of freshwater crabs are distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, divided among eight families. They show direct development and maternal care of a small number of offspring, in contrast to marine crabs, which release thousands of planktonic larvae. This limits the dispersal abilities of freshwater crabs, so they tend to be endemic to small areas. As a result, a large proportion are threatened with extinction.
Seychellum alluaudi is a species of freshwater crab endemic to the Seychelles, and the only true freshwater crab in that country. It lives in rainforest streams on the archipelago's granitic high islands. Although it may be abundant, little is known about its biology. If its habitat were to decline in quality, S. alluaudi might become endangered, but it is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
A number of lineages of crabs have evolved to live predominantly on land. Examples of terrestrial crabs are found in the families Gecarcinidae and Gecarcinucidae, as well as in selected genera from other families, such as Sesarma, although the term "land crab" is often used to mean solely the family Gecarcinidae.
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.
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.
Kani maranjandu is a species of tree crab first identified in 2017. K. maranjandu has, to date, only been observed in the forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India. As of 2021, it is the only species in the genus Kani.
Sayamia is a genus of freshwater crabs, found in South-East Asia. Three species are included on the list of least concern (lc) arthropods, but S. melanodactylus is endangered.
Mekhongthelphusa is a genus of freshwater crabs in the family Gecarcinucidae, found in South-East Asia.
Parathelphusa pantherina, commonly known as the "panther crab", is a variety of freshwater crab from Indonesia from the family of the Gecarcinucidae. The scientific name of the species was published for the first time in 1902 by Schenkel. The species is categorized as Endangered by IUCN Red List due to damage to their habitat by mining of nickel from lake shores where they live, which negatively impacts their water quality.
Gubernatoriana triangulus is a species of freshwater crab in the family Gecarcinucidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats in India.
Ghatiana atropurpurea is a species of arboreal crab from India that was first identified in 2016. Unlike other species of its genus, Ghatiana, it is not endemic to the Western Ghats.
Somanniathelphusa lacuvita is a species of crab that belongs to the family Gecarcinucidae. The species was first found in Cambodia. The crab is found in rice paddies. When undercooked, it can transmit lung flukes to humans.