Renewed sampling of inland aquatic habitats in southern Africa yields two novel freshwater crab species (Decapoda: Potamonautidae: Potamonautes) |
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| Authors: | Savel R Daniels Ethel E Phiri Julian Bayliss |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, , Matieland, 7602 South Africa;2. Programme Coordinator and Analyst, Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, , Cambridge, UK;3. Fauna & Flora International, , Cambridge, CB1?2JD UK |
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| Abstract: | A recent survey of the freshwater streams of the Mecula and Yao mountains in the Niassa province of Mozambique resulted in the discovery of a new freshwater crab species. This species is genetically and morphologically distinct from described species from Mozambique or its neighbouring countries, and is described as P otamonautes bellarussus sp. nov. In addition, a new semi‐terrestrial burrowing freshwater crab P otamonautes flavusjo sp. nov. from the Highveld of the Mpumalanga province in South Africa is described based on unique genetic and morphological characters. The phylogenetic affinities of the two new species in relation to the described eastern and southern African Potamonautes species is determined and the biogeographic implications are discussed. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London |
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| Keywords: | genetics inland aquatic systems mountainous new species systematics |
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