Global diversity of crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in freshwater

Abstract

An assessment of the global freshwater crab diversity is presented. A total of 1,476 species in 14 families are currently known from all zoogeo-graphical regions (except Antarctica), including 1,306 species in eight exclusively freshwater families (Pseudothelphusidae, Trichodactylidae, Potamonauti-dae, Deckeniidae, Platythelphusidae, Potamidae, Gecarcinucidae and Parathelphusidae). Estimates of true freshwater crab diversity including likely num-bers of undescribed taxa suggest that the field remains largely in a ‘‘discovery’’ phase. Main ideas on the origins, diversification, and phylogeny of true fresh-water crabs are briefly discussed. The economic importance of freshwater crabs is also highlighted.