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Issue: Vol. 4231 No. 2: 10 Feb. 2017
Type: Article
Published: 2017-02-09
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4231.2.9
Page range: 273–280
Abstract views: 141
PDF downloaded: 1

New data on the taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of the rediscovered
Louisea edeaensis (Bott, 1969) (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae), an endangered freshwater crab from Cameroon

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. Laboratory of Zoology, Higher Teacher Training College, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 47, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Invalidenstr. 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Zoology & Evolution, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany.
Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 IFZ, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Laboratory of Zoology, Higher Teacher Training College, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 47, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, 49855-5376, USA.
Crustacea taxonomy Lake Ossa IUCN Red List

Abstract

The rare and endangered Cameroonian potamonautid freshwater crab Louisea edeaensis (Bott, 1969) was recently rediscovered during a biological inventory of the freshwater decapods of southern Cameroon. The previous record dated back more than 100 years. The new specimens allow an updated diagnosis of the species based on comparisons of important taxonomic characters. Photographs of the carapace, gonopods, third maxillipeds, and chelipeds of the largest adult male specimen from Lake Ossa, Cameroon are provided, as are the first photographs of living specimens. The conservation implications of the new data on habitat, population structure, distribution, and threats for this rare and endangered species are discussed.

 

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