Descriptions of two new cavernicolous species of Chinapotamon Dai & Naiyanetr, 1994 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamidae) from China

Abstract

Two new species of potamid freshwater crabs of the genus Chinapotamon Dai & Naiyanetr, 1994, are described from caves in Guangxi, southwestern China. Although obtained inside caves, C. dashiwei n. sp. does not show any cave-adapted morphological features, differing from congeners in the form of the carapace, structure of the male pleon and male first gonopods. Chinapotamon clarkei n. sp., on the other hand, has lost much of its body pigmentation, has conspicuously long ambulatory legs and the eyes are reduced with the cornea small. In these aspects, C. clarkei differs from all other Chinapotamon species and is the most stygobitic potamid currently known from China.