A revision of the freshwater crabs of Mt Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains, Kenya, East Africa (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the freshwater crabs of Mt Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains in central Kenya, East Africa is revised based on a large collection of previously unreported material. Three species belonging to the genus Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838 (Potamonautidae Bott, 1970) are recognized from the region and redescribed. Potamonautes jeanneli (Bouvier, 1921) and P. odhneri (Colosi, 1924) are both resurrected from synonymy and P. alluaudi (Bouvier, 1921) is recognized as a valid species rather than as a subspecies of P. suprasulcatus (Hilgendorf, 1898). All three species are endemic to the Central Province, Kenya.