• Gecarcinucinae Rathbun, M.J. 1904. Les crabes d'eau douce (Potamonidae). Nouvelles Archives du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 4 6: 225-311, pls 1-10 [233].
• Parathelphusinae Alcock, A.W. 1910. On the classification of the Potamonidae (Thelphusidae). Records of the Indian Museum 5(4): 253-261 [254, 255].

  Type genus:

   Parathelphusa H. Milne Edwards, 1853.
• Spiralothelphusinae Bott, R. 1968. Parathelphusiden aus Hinterindien (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parathelphusidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 49(5): 403-422 [403].

  Type genus:

   Spiralthelphusa Bott, 1968.
• Somanniathelphusinae Bott, R. 1968. Parathelphusiden aus Hinterindien (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parathelphusidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 49(5): 403-422 [406].

  Type genus:

   Somanniathelphusa Bott, 1968.
• Ceylonthelphusinae Bott, R. 1969. Flußkrabben aus Asien und ihre Klassifikation (Crustacea: Decapoda). Senckenbergiana Biologica 50(5/6): 359-366 [364].

  Type genus:

   Ceylonthelphusa Bott, 1969.
• Sundathelphusidae Bott, R. 1969. Flußkrabben aus Asien und ihre Klassifikation (Crustacea: Decapoda). Senckenbergiana Biologica 50(5/6): 359-366 [362].

  Type genus:

   Sundathelphusa Bott, 1969.
• Liotelphusinae Bott, R. 1969. Flußkrabben aus Asien und ihre Klassifikation (Crustacea: Decapoda). Senckenbergiana Biologica 50(5/6): 359-366.
• Nautilothelphusini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ng, P.K.L. & Sket, B. 1996. The freshwater crab fauna (Crustacea: Brachyura) of the Philippines. IV. On a collection of Parathelphusidae from Bohol. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 109(4): 695-706 [696]

Introduction

The taxonomic treatment of this group adopted here represents a marked departure from the nomenclature that has been most recently accepted. Bott (1969) erected the Sundathelphusidae for a small group of freshwater crabs, represented in Australia by seven species that he placed in his new genus and subgenus Holthuisana (Austrothelphusa) Bott, 1969. Ng (1988: 84) cast doubt upon the validity of the Sundathelphusidae as a separate family, and suggested that the characters that separate it from the Parathelphusidae Alcock, are ambiguous and unreliable. Ng & Sket (1996: 696) later formally placed Sundathelphusa in the Parathelphusidae, thus synonymising the two families. However, there has continued to be considerable interest in the phylogenetic relationsips of the freshwater crabs. In the most recent appraisal using a wide variety of morphological and genetic markers, Klaus et al. (2009) showed conclusively that the current classification of Parathelphusidae and Gecarcinucidae is not parismonious and synonymised the two families. Although there appears to be some structure inside the now enlarged Gecarcinucidae, the authors argued that more genera will need to be analysed to show the real patterns inside the family. This classification is followed here (see also Cumberlidge & Ng, 2009).

The subgenus Holthuisana (Austrothelphusa) differs sufficiently from Holthuisana sensu stricto, to be raised to full generic status. Austrothelphusa differs from Holthuisana most significantly by the shape of the male abdomen which in Austrothelphusa species is comparatively broader and less obviously T-shaped (those of several species appearing almost triangular), and in particular the distal segments are broader and less elongated. Other less obvious features are a more convex and smoother carapace that has the epigastric and postorbital cristae comparatively weaker. Peter K.L Ng (pers. comm.) also believes that the remaining Holthuisana species are polyphyletic, and may need to be further split generically.

Australian species were revised by Riek (1951), and then more comprehensively by Bishop (1963) who recognised six species. Bott (1970) recognised only two of Bishop's species, but made this judgement after examining only limited material from a restricted range of localities. Short (1994), in describing a new species, Holthuisana tigrina, again supported recognition of all six species, a view with which I concur after examination of a large collection held at the Queensland Museum.

Unlike most marine crabs, gecarcinucids do not have a planktonic larval stage, instead having direct development, with the young crabs hatching from the large eggs. Typically, the adults burrow up to about one metre in swampy ground or into the banks of rivers, creeks or waterholes. They can survive several years of drought by plugging their burrows with clay. One species, Austrothelphusa transversa, has proved enormously successful, being widespread from inland north-western Australia across the Northern Territory to the Lake Eyre Basin, the Darling River drainage system in western New South Wales, and into inland and coastal tropical Queensland.

Gecarcinucids have a very wide distribution, however a single genus.Austrothelphusa appears to be confined to Australia. Given the great extent of morphological similarity between most of the Australian species, and the fact that most are found on Cape York, a reasonable hypothesis is that the Australian representatives radiated relatively recently from a New Guinean stock that crossed to Cape York during a period of glacial land-bridge connection.

General References

Bishop, J.A. 1963. The Australian freshwater crabs of the family Potamonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 218-238

Bott, R. 1969. Flußkrabben aus Asien und ihre Klassifikation (Crustacea: Decapoda). Senckenbergiana Biologica 50(5/6): 359-366

Bott, R. 1970. Die Süsswasserkrabben von Europa, Asien, Australien und ihre Stammesgeschichte. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft 526: 1-338 pls 1-58 figs 1-8

Cumberlidge, N. & Ng, P.K.L. 2009. Systematics, evolution, and biogeography of freshwater crabs. In: Crustacean Issues 18: Decapod Crustacean Phylogenetics, Martin, J.W., Crandall, K.A. & Felder, D.L. (eds), CRC Press, England. pp. 491–508

Holthuis, L.B. 1982. Freshwater Crustacea Decapoda of New Guinea. pp. 603-619 in Gressitt, J.L. (ed.). Biogeography and Ecology of New Guinea. The Hague & London : W. Junk Vol. 2(4) vii 983 pp.

Klaus, S., Brandis, D., Ng, P.K.L., Yeo, D.C.J. & Schubart, C.D. 2009. Phylogeny and biogeography of Asian freshwater crabs of the family Gecarcinucidae (Brachyura: Potamoidea). In: Crustacean Issues 18: Decapod Crustacean Phylogenetics, Martin, J.W., Crandall, K.A. & Felder, D.L. (eds), CRC Press, England,. pp. 509–531

Ng, P.K.L. 1988. The Freshwater Crabs of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore : Department of Zoology, National University of Singapore & Shinglee Publishers Pty Ltd pp. i-viii, 1-152.

Ng, P.K.L. & Sket, B. 1996. The freshwater crab fauna (Crustacea: Brachyura) of the Philippines. IV. On a collection of Parathelphusidae from Bohol. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 109(4): 695-706

Riek, E.F. 1951. The Australian freshwater crabs (Potamonidae). Records of the Australian Museum 22(4): 351-357

Short, J.W. 1994. A new species of freshwater crab (Sundathelphusidae) from Cape York Peninsula. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 35(1): 235-240

History of changes

• Austrothelphusa Bott, R. 1969. Flußkrabben aus Asien und ihre Klassifikation (Crustacea: Decapoda). Senckenbergiana Biologica 50(5/6): 359-366 [363] [first introduced as a subgenus of Holthuisana Bott, 1969; gender feminine].

  Type species:

   Thelphusa transversa Martens, 1868 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

New Guinea, Fiji.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Riverina (RIV), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

General References

Davie, P. 2002. Crustacea: Malacostraca: Eucarida (Part 2): Decapoda—Anomura, Brachyura. In Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 19.3B. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xiv 641 pp. [377] (accorded Austrothelphusa full generic status)

History of changes

• Potamon (Geothelphusa) agassizi Rathbun, M.J. 1905. Les crabs d'eau douce (Potamonidae). Part 2. Nouvelles Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris 4 7: 159-323, text-figs 38-105 pls 13-22 [211 pl. 18 fig. 2].

  Type data:

   Holotype MCZ 6309 ♂, Lizard Island, off coast of N QLD.
• Geothelphusa leichardti plana McCulloch, A.R. 1917. Studies in Australian Crustacea No. 4. Records of the Australian Museum 11(11): 231-238 [236 pl. 42 fig. 5].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM P4110 ♂, Eureka Creek, Walsh River, QLD.
  Paratype(s) AM G1091; AM P1954; AM P4111; AM P4112.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Bishop, J.A. 1963. The Australian freshwater crabs of the family Potamonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 218-238 [227]

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

From Ravenshoe west to Walsh River, near Chillagoe, and north to Iron Range in the east, and Archer River in the west.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, freshwater.

General References

Riek, E.F. 1951. The Freshwater Crayfish (Family Parastacidae) of Queensland. Records of the Australian Museum 22(4): 368-388 [353]

Short, J.W. 1994. A new species of freshwater crab (Sundathelphusidae) from Cape York Peninsula. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 35(1): 235-240

Springthorpe, R.T. & Lowry, J.K. 1993. Catalogue of Crustacean type specimens in the Australian Museum: Malacostraca. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum 11: 1-134 [103-104] (invalid designation of lectotype for Geothelphusa leichardti plana McCulloch; the caption to pl. 42 fig. 5 clearly designates the figured and identified male specimen as the 'type of variety')

History of changes

• Thelphusa angustifrons Milne Edwards, A. 1869. Révision de genre Thelphusa et description de quelques espèces nouvelles. Archives du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 5: 161-191 pls 8-11 [171 pl. 8 fig. 1].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MNHP, Cape York, N QLD.
• Paratelphusa (Liotelphusa) podenzane Colosi, G. 1919. I poamonidi conservati nel R. museo Zoologico di Firenze. Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 1919(1): 39-62 [54].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MZUF M.849, Cape York.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Bishop, J.A. 1963. The Australian freshwater crabs of the family Potamonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 218-238 [232]

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Torres Strait south to Musgrave Stn, Normanby River, Cape York.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, freshwater.

History of changes

• Austrothelphusa gilbertensis Naser, M.D., Davie, P.J.F. & Waltham, N.J. 2018. Redescription of Austrothelphusa wasselli (Bishop, 1963) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), and designation of a new species from the Gilbert River, north Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 4369(1): 109–127 [119].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM W28346 ♂, Venture Creek, E of Croydon, Gilbert Catchment, Queensland.
  Paratype(s) QM W28040 3 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, same as holotype; QM W28339 1 ♂, small creek off Gilbert River, QLD; QM W28305 1 ♀, Pleasant Creek, off Gilbert River, QLD.

Introduction

A member of the Austrothelphusa wasselli species-complex (see Naser et al. 2018)

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Gulf Plains (GUP)

General References

Naser, M.D., Davie, P.J.F. & Waltham, N.J. 2018. Redescription of Austrothelphusa wasselli (Bishop, 1963) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), and designation of a new species from the Gilbert River, north Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 4369(1): 109–127

History of changes

• Parathelphusa raceki Bishop, J.A. 1963. The Australian freshwater crabs of the family Potamonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 218-238 [233 figs 1d, 2a, 4, pl.].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM G4219 ♂, Batavia River [Wenlock River], near Mapoon Mission, Cape York.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

From Wenlock River to Archer River, on western coast, and around Port Stewart, in the east.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, freshwater.

General References

Short, J.W. 1994. A new species of freshwater crab (Sundathelphusidae) from Cape York Peninsula. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 35(1): 235-240 [235]

History of changes

• Holthuisana (Austrothelphusa) tigrina Short, J.W. 1994. A new species of freshwater crab (Sundathelphusidae) from Cape York Peninsula. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 35(1): 235-240 [235 figs 1-6].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM W18822 ♂, headwaters of One Mile Creek, a tributary of the Alice River, Cape York.
  Paratype(s) QM W17162; QM W19027.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IBRA

Qld: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, freshwater.

History of changes

• Thelphusa transversa Martens, E. von 1868. Über einige neue Crustaceen. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1868: 608-615 [609].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) ZMB 2976, Cape York, northern Australia.
• Thelphusa crassa Milne Edwards, A. 1869. Révision de genre Thelphusa et description de quelques espèces nouvelles. Archives du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 5: 161-191 pls 8-11 [177 pl. 9 fig. 2].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MNHP no reg. available, Cape York, northern Australia.
• Thelphusa leichardti Miers, E.J. 1884. Crustacea. Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the Voyage of H.M.S. `Alert' 1881–2. Part I. The collections from Melanesia. Part II. Collections from the western Indian Ocean. London : British Museum. pp. 178–322, 513–575 pls 18–32, 46–51. [236].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 46.74, 77.32, Eastern Australia (designation of Cape York as type locality of the species may be incorrect).

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Bott, R. 1970. Die Süsswasserkrabben von Europa, Asien, Australien und ihre Stammesgeschichte. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft 526: 1-338 pls 1-58 figs 1-8 [94]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

From Fitzroy River, near Derby, across northern Australia to west of Chillagoe, N QLD, and south to Lake Eyre catchment and down the Murray-Darling system to about Nyngan, mid-western NSW, east of Great Dividing Range between Townsville and Gladstone, QLD.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Riverina (RIV), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, freshwater, springs, swamp.

General References

Davie, P. 2002. Crustacea: Malacostraca: Eucarida (Part 2): Decapoda—Anomura, Brachyura. In Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 19.3B. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xiv 641 pp. [378] (appears to be a species-complex with possibly three undescribed species across the northern coastal strip)

Naser, M.D., Davie, P.J.F. & Waltham, N.J. 2018. Redescription of Austrothelphusa wasselli (Bishop, 1963) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), and designation of a new species from the Gilbert River, north Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 4369(1): 109–127 [118]

History of changes

• Paratelphusa valentula Riek, E.F. 1951. The Australian freshwater crabs (Potamonidae). Records of the Australian Museum 22(4): 351-357 [355 fig. 6].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM P11982 ♂, Coen, N Queensland.
  Paratype(s) AM P11983 ♀ (as allotype); AM P11910.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

From west and east flowing catchments in the vicinity of Coen, Cape York.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, freshwater.

General References

Bishop, J.A. 1963. The Australian freshwater crabs of the family Potamonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 218-238 [231]

History of changes

• Parathelphusa wasselli Bishop, J.A. 1963. The Australian freshwater crabs of the family Potamonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 218-238 [229 figs 1a, 2d, 4, pl.].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM P14524 ♂, Port Stewart District, Cape York, QLD.
  Paratype(s) AM P14525 ♀ (as allotype); AM P14529; WAM 574-85 ♂ ♀.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Near Croydon, Norman River catchment, north to Coen River, in the west, and east to upper Baron River, and north to Port Stewart, Cape York, in the east.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, freshwater, temporary pond.

General References

Bishop, J.A. 1963. The Australian freshwater crabs of the family Potamonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 14: 218-238 [229]

Naser, M.D., Davie, P.J.F. & Waltham, N.J. 2018. Redescription of Austrothelphusa wasselli (Bishop, 1963) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), and designation of a new species from the Gilbert River, north Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 4369(1): 109–127 (redescription)

History of changes