Potamon | |
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Potamon fluviatile | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Family: | Potamidae |
Subfamily: | Potaminae |
Genus: | Potamon Savigny, 1816 [1] |
Type species | |
Potamon fluviatile (Herbst, 1785) |
Potamon is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. [2] The only exception is the North African P. algeriense, which also is the only potamid of mainland Africa. Twenty species are currently recognised. [1] [3] [4] These crabs are omnivores that have a broad ecological tolerance. The adult Potaman reach up to 50 mm in size during their 10-12 year life span.
Many other taxa from Indochina, originally described as species of Potamon, are now placed in other genera, such as Himalayapotamon , Beccumon , Eosamon , and Takpotamon . [1]