Diversity of freshwater crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in the Subansiri River basin of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, northeast India
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Abstract
Crabs are significant invertebrates in the Subansiri River basin, one of the major sub-basins of the Brahmaputra valley in northeast India. They have immense ecological and economic value and provide an alternative source of income for the local inhabitants. Following thirteen sites in the Subansiri River basin were surveyed to determine the availability and diversity of crab species in this region: Hatinala, Kalma river, Dikrong river, Senki river, Poma river, Harmuti, Ranganadi river dam site, Diju stream, Lower Subansiri river, Downstream Ranganadi, Pani gaon wetlands, Bosa gaon beel, and Bhelamora beel. Crab samples were collected using a random sampling method and identified using standard taxonomic keys. Seven species from two families were identified and distinguished by their morphology and habitat preferences: Sartoriana spinigera, Sartoriana trilobata, Maydelliathelphusa lugubris, Maydelliathelphusa harpax, Liotelphusa laevis (Gecarcinucidae) Lobothelphusa woodmasoni, and Acanthopotamon horai (Potamidae). These crabs are thought to be endemic to the Eastern Himalayan region due to their limited dispersibility. This is the first study aimed at contributing to the documentation and conservation of freshwater crabs in North East India. Additionally, the economic relevance of freshwater crabs is highlighted.
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Keywords
Subansiri River basin, Freshwater crab, Documentation, Ranganadi River, Crab livelihood
References
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Bott, R. (1970). Die Süßwasserkrabben von Europa, Asien, Australien und ihre Stammesgeschichte. Eine Revision der Potamoidea und der Parathelphusoidea (Crustacea, Decapoda). Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden, 526, 1-338.
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Brandis, D. & Sharma, S. (2005). Taxonomic revision of the freshwater crab fauna of Nepal with description of a new species (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamoidea and Gecarcinucoidea). Senckenbergiana Biologica, 85(1), 1-30.
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Chetia, A., Mitra, S. & Das, D.N. (2020). Morphotaxonomic review for conserving Liotelphusa laevis (Wood-Mason, 1871) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), A near threatened freshwater crab from North East India. Journal of Scientific Research, 64(1), 59-63. doi.org/10.37398/JSR.2020.640107
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Mitra, S. (2020). Abortelphusa namdaphaensis, a new genus and new species of freshwater crab (Decapoda, Brachyura, Gecarcinucidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Crustaceana, 93(7), 803-817. doi.org/10.1163/15685403-bja10027.
Mitra, S., Pati, S. K., & Ng, P. K. (2021). Abormon, a new genus of freshwater crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamidae) from northeastern India, with descriptions of two new species. Nauplius, 29. doi.org/10.1590/2358-2936e2021 014
Narain, K., Devi, K.R., & Mahanta, J. (2003). Paragonimus and paragonimiasis–a new focus in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Current Science, 84(8), 985-987.
Ng, P.K., Guinot, D. & Davie, P.J. (2008). Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant brachyuran crabs of the world. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 17, 1-286.
Pati, S. & Thackeray, T. (2018). The freshwater crab genera Ghatiana Pati Sharma, Gubernatoriana Bott, and Inglethelphusa Bott (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) revisited, with descriptions of a new genus and eleven new species. Zootaxa, 4440(1), 1-73. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4440.1.1
Pati, S.K., Mitra, S. & Yeo, D.C. (2019). A new species of Acanthopotamon Kemp, 1918 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae: Potaminae) from northeastern India, with a key to the species of the genus and notes on their distribution in relation to freshwater ecoregions. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 39(4), 450-458. doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruz040
Pati, S. K., Mitra, S., & Ng, P. K. (2020). The identity of the freshwater crab Indochinamon manipurense (Alcock, 1909), with description of a new species of Potamiscus Alcock, 1909, from Manipur state, India (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae). Crustaceana, 93(7), 703-725. doi.org/10.1163/15685403-bja10009
Pati, S.K. (2021). Two new species of freshwater crabs of the genus Potamiscus Alcock, 1909 (Brachyura: Potamidae) from Nagaland, northeastern India. Nauplius, 29. doi.org/10.1590/2358-2936e2021006
Roy, J.S., Das, P.P., Borah, A.K. & Das, J.K. (2016). Paragonimiasis in a child from Assam, India. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research, 10(4), 6-7. doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/18160.7616
Singh, T.S., Sugiyama, H. & Rangsiruji, A. (2012). Paragonimus and paragonimiasis in India. Indian journal of medical research, 136(2), 192-204.
Takeda, M., Sugiyama, H & Singh, T. (2012). Some freshwater crabs from northeast India bordered on Myanmar. Journal of Teikyo Heisei University, 23(1), 199-213.
Yeo, D.C. & Ng, P.K. (2012). Sodhiana, a new genus of freshwater crab from South Asia (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 25, 279-284.
Zhou, X.J., Yang, Q., Tan, Q.H., Zhang, L.Y., Shi, L.B. & Zou, J.X. (2021). Paragonimus and its hosts in China: an update. Acta Tropica, 223, 106094, 1-11. doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106094
Alcock, A. (1909). Diagnoses of new species and varieties of freshwater crabs. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 3(4), 375-381.
Alcock, A. (1910). Catalogue of the Indian Decapod Crustacea in the Collection of the Indian Museum. Brachyura I. Fasc. II. The Indian Freshwater Crabs-Potamonidae. Calcutta.
Bott, R. (1970). Die Süßwasserkrabben von Europa, Asien, Australien und ihre Stammesgeschichte. Eine Revision der Potamoidea und der Parathelphusoidea (Crustacea, Decapoda). Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden, 526, 1-338.
Bisht, S.R. (2015). Morphotaxonomy and eco biology of some crabs of Nepal. Kumaun University (Doctoral dissertation).
Brandis, D. & Sharma, S. (2005). Taxonomic revision of the freshwater crab fauna of Nepal with description of a new species (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamoidea and Gecarcinucoidea). Senckenbergiana Biologica, 85(1), 1-30.
Chetia, A. & Das, D.N. (2019). Enumeration of fresh water crab and aquatic fauna in Ranganadi River basin, Assam In: Research Trends on Fish and Fisheries in Mountain Waters of Eastern Himalayan Region. Notion Press, Chennai.
Chetia, A., Mitra, S. & Das, D.N. (2020). Morphotaxonomic review for conserving Liotelphusa laevis (Wood-Mason, 1871) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), A near threatened freshwater crab from North East India. Journal of Scientific Research, 64(1), 59-63. doi.org/10.37398/JSR.2020.640107
Chetia, A., Mitra, S. & Das. D.N. (2021). Redescription of Sartoriana trilobata (Alcock, 1909) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from Assam, Northeast India, with notes on the morphology of male gonopods. Zootaxa, 5026(1), 136–144. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5026.1.6
Cumberlidge, N., Ng, P.K., Yeo, D.C., Magalhães, C., Campos, M.R., Alvarez, F., Naruse. T., Daniels, S.R., Esser, L.J., Attipoe, F.Y.K., Clotilde-Ba, F-L., Darwall, W., McIvor, A., Ram, M., & Collen, B. (2009). Freshwater crabs and the biodiversity crisis: importance, threats, status, and conservation challenges. Biological Conservation, 142(8), 1665–1673. doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2009.02.038
Dobson, M. (2004). Freshwater crabs in Africa. Freshwater Biological Association. Freshwater Forum, 21, 3-26
Ghosh, S.K., Ghatak, S.S. & Roy, T. (2006). Crustacea: Decapoda Palaemonidae and Potamonidae In: Fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, Stale Fauna Series (pp 39-45). Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.
Kaushik, G. & Bordoloi, S. (2016). Ichthyofauna of Ranganadi River in Lakhimpur, Assam, India. Check List, 12(2), 1-6. doi.org/10.15560/12.2.1872
Magalhaes, C. (2003). Brachyura: Pseudothelphusidae e Trichodactylidae In: Manual de Identificacao dos Crustaceos Decapodos de Agua Doce Brasileiros (pp 143-297). Sao Paulo, Edicoes Loyola, Museu de Zoologia Universidade de Sao Paulo.
Mitra, S. (2017). Freshwater Crabs: Crustacea : Decapoda : Gecarcinucidae and Potamidae of Mizoram. Zoological Survey of India.
Mitra, S. (2020). Abortelphusa namdaphaensis, a new genus and new species of freshwater crab (Decapoda, Brachyura, Gecarcinucidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Crustaceana, 93(7), 803-817. doi.org/10.1163/15685403-bja10027.
Mitra, S., Pati, S. K., & Ng, P. K. (2021). Abormon, a new genus of freshwater crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamidae) from northeastern India, with descriptions of two new species. Nauplius, 29. doi.org/10.1590/2358-2936e2021 014
Narain, K., Devi, K.R., & Mahanta, J. (2003). Paragonimus and paragonimiasis–a new focus in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Current Science, 84(8), 985-987.
Ng, P.K., Guinot, D. & Davie, P.J. (2008). Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant brachyuran crabs of the world. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 17, 1-286.
Pati, S. & Thackeray, T. (2018). The freshwater crab genera Ghatiana Pati Sharma, Gubernatoriana Bott, and Inglethelphusa Bott (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) revisited, with descriptions of a new genus and eleven new species. Zootaxa, 4440(1), 1-73. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4440.1.1
Pati, S.K., Mitra, S. & Yeo, D.C. (2019). A new species of Acanthopotamon Kemp, 1918 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae: Potaminae) from northeastern India, with a key to the species of the genus and notes on their distribution in relation to freshwater ecoregions. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 39(4), 450-458. doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruz040
Pati, S. K., Mitra, S., & Ng, P. K. (2020). The identity of the freshwater crab Indochinamon manipurense (Alcock, 1909), with description of a new species of Potamiscus Alcock, 1909, from Manipur state, India (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae). Crustaceana, 93(7), 703-725. doi.org/10.1163/15685403-bja10009
Pati, S.K. (2021). Two new species of freshwater crabs of the genus Potamiscus Alcock, 1909 (Brachyura: Potamidae) from Nagaland, northeastern India. Nauplius, 29. doi.org/10.1590/2358-2936e2021006
Roy, J.S., Das, P.P., Borah, A.K. & Das, J.K. (2016). Paragonimiasis in a child from Assam, India. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research, 10(4), 6-7. doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/18160.7616
Singh, T.S., Sugiyama, H. & Rangsiruji, A. (2012). Paragonimus and paragonimiasis in India. Indian journal of medical research, 136(2), 192-204.
Takeda, M., Sugiyama, H & Singh, T. (2012). Some freshwater crabs from northeast India bordered on Myanmar. Journal of Teikyo Heisei University, 23(1), 199-213.
Yeo, D.C. & Ng, P.K. (2012). Sodhiana, a new genus of freshwater crab from South Asia (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 25, 279-284.
Zhou, X.J., Yang, Q., Tan, Q.H., Zhang, L.Y., Shi, L.B. & Zou, J.X. (2021). Paragonimus and its hosts in China: an update. Acta Tropica, 223, 106094, 1-11. doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106094
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Diversity of freshwater crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in the Subansiri River basin of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, northeast India. (2022). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 14(3), 921-930. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v14i3.3524
