The freshwater crab fauna (crustacea, brachyura) of the Philippines vi. A new cavernicolous crab from Mindanao

Abstract

A new species of cavernicolous freshwater crab of the genus Sundathelphusa Bott, 1969 (Family Parathelphusidae), S. hades, is described from Mindanao in the Philippines. The new species has greatly reduced eyes, noticeably elongated ambulatory legs and lack of dark body pigmentation, all representing features associated with an obligate troglodyte. The species can be differentiated from the closest congener, S. cavernicola (Takeda, 1983) from Bohol in the Philippines by the form of its carapace and male first pleopod.