Molecular evidence and differences in gonopod morphology lead to the recognition of a new species of the freshwater crab genus Candidiopotamon Bott, 1967 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae) from eastern Taiwan

Abstract

A new freshwater crab of the potamid genus Candidiopotamon Bott, 1967, is described from eastern Taiwan. Candidiopotamon penglai sp. nov. is morphologically similar to C. rathbuni (De Man, 1914) from western Taiwan, but can be distinguished by the morphology of the male first gonopod (G1), as well as by their mitochondrial DNA (16S rRNA and COI genes). In the G1 of C. rathbuni, the subterminal segment shows a cline from robust in northern populations to slender in southern populations. In the G1 of C. penglai sp. nov., a distinctly larger and more distally directed keel-like projection is found on the distal inner edge of the terminal segment, with northern populations having an inward-curving subterminal segment and southern populations a straight subterminal segment. The genetic differentiation of the two species of Candidiopotamon within Taiwan is discussed, and morphological differences are compared. A key to the species of Candidiopotamon is also provided.