| Potamon | |
|---|---|
| | |
| 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]