Freshwater decapod diversity and conservation in Mexico

Abstract

The diversity, distribution, and conservation status of the 172 species of freshwater decapod crustaceans of Mexico is presented. These freshwater crustaceans are classified in eight families: Atyidae, Palaemonidae, Alpheidae, Cambaridae, Parastacidae, Pseudothelphusidae, Trichodactylidae, and Glyptograpsidae. The Mexican fauna is composed of Neotropical and Neartic lineages that occupy lowland areas near the coast as well as mountain rivers, high altitude lakes, and underground caves. Pseudothelphusid crabs and cambarid crayfish are the most diverse groups, followed by palaemonid and atyid shrimps, while trichodactylid crabs are represented by only five species, and alpheids, glyptograpsids, and parastacids by one species each. The conservation status of the Mexican species have been assessed using the IUCN Red List protocols and comprises 30 % least concern, 4 % near threatened, 14 %vulnerable, 5 %endangered, 5 %critically endangered, and 1 %extinct, while the largest number of species (41 %) are data deficient, and too poorly known to assess. The Cambaridae have the most threatened species, while the Atyidae and Palaemonidae have the highest proportion of species of least concern. Overexploitation of freshwater resources for agricultural and urban use together with the impact of introduced species are the most important threats to Mexico’s freshwater decapod fauna.