Potamon algeriense

Potamon algeriense is a freshwater crab found in North Africa.

Potamon algeriense
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Potamidae
Genus:
Potamon
Species:
P. algeriense
Binomial name
Potamon algeriense
Bott, 1967
Synonyms[1]
  • Potamon fluviatile algeriensis
    Bott, 1967
  • Potamon fluviatile berghetripsorum
    Pretzmann, 1976

Systematics

P. algeriense is a close relative of the European species Potamon fluviatile, of which it was formerly considered a subspecies.[2]

Biogeography

Potamon algeriense has a wide but patchy distribution across Tunisia (Jendouba, Béja, Kairouan and Gafsa Governorates), Algeria (Algiers, Médéa and Béjaïa Provinces) and Morocco (Kénitra and Fes Provinces).[1]

P. algeriense is the only member of the freshwater crab family Potamidae in mainland Africa, which is otherwise dominated by the family Potamonautidae. It is presumed to have arrived from Italy during the Messinian salinity crisis 5–7 million years ago.[3]

Potamon algeriense is mostly located in North America and is slowly becoming extinct in the Morocco and Moulouya watershed areas due to a lack of biodiversity and conservation status . These organisms are having a difficult time surviving due to the overwhelming rate of pollution in these areas. Some still reside in the Moulouya watershed because of their high oxygenated water and low conductivity (Taybi, 2018).

References
  • Taybi, A F; et al. (2018). "Bio-Ecology of Potamon Algeriense in Eastern Morocco" (PDF). Museuciencies. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  1. Cumberildge, N. (2008). "Potamon algeriense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T134365A3945207. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T134365A3945207.en.
  2. P. K. L. Ng; D. Guinot & P. J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286.
  3. Michael Apel & Dirk Brandis (2000). "A new species of freshwater crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamidae) from Socotra Island and description of Socotrapotamon n. gen" (PDF). Fauna of Arabia. 18: 133–144.
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