Two New Species of Potamonemus Cumberlidge and Clark, 1992 (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae) From the Rain Forests of West Africa

Abstract

Two new species of West African fresh-water crabs are described from specimens in the Zoologisches Staatsinstitut und Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg, Germany, and from material in the author's collection. The new species are distinguished by a combination of characters of the gonopods, chelipeds, and carapace. These species are found in the rain forest zone of southwest Cameroon and southeast Nigeria, West Africa. They are compared to Potamonemus mambilorum Cumberlidge and Clark, 1992, the type species of the genus, and to other freshwater crabs in the family Potamonautidae occurring in West Africa. A key to distinguish between the three species in the genus Potamonemus is provided.