A new species of freshwater crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae) from Dongyin Island, Matsu, Taiwan, defined by morphological and molecular characters, with notes on its biogeography

Abstract

A new species of freshwater crab, Nanhaipotamon dongyinense sp. nov. (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae), is described from Dongyin Island, Matsu, Taiwan. Based on morphological and molecular (mitochondrial 16S rRNA) evidence, it can be distinguished from its congeners. The biogeography of the species, found on an island 50 km from mainland China, is also discussed.

Keywords:

• Biogeography
• freshwater crab
• mtDNA sequence
• Nanhaipotamon dongyinense
• new species
• 16S rRNA
• Taiwan

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the National Science Council of the R.O.C. (NSC 90‐2611‐B‐178‐001, 91‐2621‐B‐178‐004, and 92‐2621‐B‐178‐003) to the senior author. We wish to express our thanks to He‐Tien Hung, Nian‐Hong Jiang‐Liaw, Jung‐Hsiang Lee, Ping‐Ho Ho, and Peter K. L. Ng for collecting specimens and providing tissues, and to De‐Cheng Yuan for improving the preliminary draft. Special thanks to P. K. L. Ng for comments on this manuscript. Two anonymous reviewers who greatly improved this manuscript are also acknowledged.