Platythelphusa
Platythelphusa | |
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Platythelphusa armata | |
Scientific classification | |
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Genus: | Platythelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1887
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Type species | |
Platythelphusa armata A. Milne-Edwards, 1887 | |
Species | |
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Platythelphusa is a
Taxonomic history
The first freshwater crab to be described from Lake Tanganyika, by
In 1952, Capart did not recognise the species P. conculcata, but added four new species, P. denticulata, P. echinata, P. polita and P. tuberculata. Since that time, P. conculcata has been restored, and two new species have been described, P. immaculata and P. praelongata.[5]
Distribution
All nine species live in relatively shallow waters around the edge of Lake Tanganyika. While four countries border Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia), only two species have been found in all four countries, P. armata and P. conculcata. One species, P. polita, has been found in all except Zambia; two (P. echinata and P. tuberculata) have been found in Burundi and Tanzania; one has been found in Tanzania and Zambia (P. maculata); one is only known from Zambia (P. praelongata) and two have only been seen in Tanzania (P. denticulata and P. immaculata). However, many of the species are poorly known, and their true distributions may be wider than is currently known.[2]
Species
Platythelphusa armata
As the largest species in the genus (up to 6 cm or 2.4 in in carapace width), Platythelphusa armata is subject to small-scale
Platythelphusa conculcata
Platythelphusa conculcata is found at depths of 20–60 metres (66–197 ft), and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.[8]
Platythelphusa denticulata
Platythelphusa denticulata is known from few sites, all in Tanzania. Though it may have a low population, there is no evidence of a decline and it is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.[9]
Platythelphusa echinata
Platythelphusa echinata is found at depths of 5–30 metres (16–98 ft) on the Tanzanian and Burundian shores of Lake Tanganyika. It lives where the substrate is rocky or sandy, and occasionally uses old Neothauma shells.[10]
Platythelphusa immaculata
Platythelphusa immaculata is known from only 25 specimens, but is listed as Least Concern, because there are no apparent threats to its survival.[11]
Platythelphusa maculata
Platythelphusa maculata lives on sand and rocks, and occasionally in Neothauma shells, at depths of 1–60 metres (3.3–196.9 ft), and is listed as Least Concern.[12]
Platythelphusa polita
Platythelphusa polita lives on sand and rocks, and occasionally in Neothauma shells, at depths of 5–60 metres (16–197 ft), and is listed as Least Concern.[13]
Platythelphusa praelongata
Platythelphusa praelongata lives at the greatest depth of any Platythelphusa species, the single known specimen having been collected at 40–80 metres (130–260 ft), around
Platythelphusa tuberculata
Platythelphusa tuberculata has longer legs than the other species, and lives at the northern end of Lake Tanganyika, on muddy substrates. It has been found in the