Madagapotamon humberti Bott, 1965

Cumberlidge, Neil, Klaus, Sebastian, Meyer, Kirstin S. & Koppin, Jennifer C., 2015, New collections of freshwater crabs from northern Madagascar, with the description of a new species of Foza Reed & Cumberlidge, 2006 (Brachyura, Potamonautidae), and comments on their conservation status, European Journal of Taxonomy 109, pp. 1-15 : 11-12

Madagapotamon humberti Bott, 1965

Madagapotamon humberti Bott, 1965: 344–346 , fig. 7, pl. 4, figs 14–17. — Vuillemin 1970: 245–265. — Ng & Takeda 1994: 162–163, table 1 . — Cumberlidge & Sternberg 2002: figs 2e, 3g, 4l, 5h, 6g, 7k–l, 8g, 10g–h, 11h. — Ng, Guinot & Davie 2008: 165.

Material examined

MADAGASCAR: All from Antsiranana Province. – Ankarana Special Reserve, 12.92° S, 49.14° E, in pitfall trap, all coll. F. Glaw, M. Franzen, J. Köhler & N. d’Cruze, 12 Feb. 2008: damaged, CW 21.5 ( ZSM A20145007); damaged, CW 34.6 ( ZSM A20145008); damaged, legs only ( ZSM A20145009); damaged, CW 18.2 ( ZSM A20145010). – Ankarana Special Reserve, Encampment des Anglais (Anilotra), 7.5 km NW of Mahamajina, 12.91° S, 49.11° E, mostly undisturbed tsingy forest, on cliff face, 125 m asl, coll. S.M. Goodman, 8 Apr. 2002, 1 specimen ( FMNH 7577). – Baie de Sakalava, K ӧhler-Stelle, 12.28° S, 49.38° E, coll. F. Glaw, M. Franzen, J. Köhler & N. d’Cruze, 17 Feb. 2008, 2 adult ♀♀ (CW 34.3, Cl 28.9, CH 13.1, FW 6.6; CW 28.9, CL 21.0) + 2 juvenile ♂♂ (CW 21.1; CW 19.8) ( ZSM A20145011). – Passe d’Orangea Reserve, 12.23° S, 49.37° E, pitfall, coll. S. Megson, 22 Feb. 2008, subadult ♂ (CW 28.8, CL 21.9); damaged subadult ♀ (CW 31.6, CL 21.5); damaged specimen ( ZSM A20145013). – Montagne des Français Reserve, 12.34° S, 49.35° E, in pitfall trap, coll. N. d’Cruze et al., 19 Feb. 2008, 1 specimen, damaged ( ZSM A20145012). – Analamerana Special Reserve, 8.6 km SE of Menagisy, Forêt d’Analabe, along Bobakindro River, 12.80° S, 49.37° E, partially disturbed dry deciduous forest, on ground during day near pitfall trap number 2, 40 m asl, all coll. S.M. Goodman, 17–21 Jan. 2004: 1 specimen ( FMNH 11033); adult ♂ ( CW 38.6) + adult ♀ ( CW 32.6) ( FMNH 11034); 1 specimen ( FMNH 11035); adult ♂ ( CW 35.4) + adult ♀ ( CW 27.6) ( FMNH 11036); adult ♀ ( CW 33) ( FMNH 11037). – Analamerana Special Reserve, 8.6 km SE of Menagisy, Forêt d’Analabe, along Bobakindro River, 12.75° S, 49.49° E, partially disturbed dry deciduous forest, found climbing up a tree during middle afternoon, 40 m asl, coll. S.M. Goodman, 18 Jan. 2004, 1 specimen ( FMNH 11035). – Analamerana Special Reserve, Forêt d’Ankavanana, 15.8 km SE of Anivorano-Nord, 12.8° S, 49.37° E, partially disturbed mixed dry deciduous and humid forest, found during early morning check, 200 m asl, all coll. S.M. Goodman, 23–27 Jan. 2004: adult ♂ ( CW 29.6) ( FMNH 11044a); adult ♂ ( CW 44.3) ( FMNH 11047); 1 specimen ( FMNH 11048); 1 specimen ( FMNH 11053); adult ♂ ( CW 42.7) ( FMNH 11055); subadult ♀ ( CW 29.1) ( FMNH 11057).

Distribution

This species was described by Bott (1965) from specimens collected in dry deciduous forests in the Ankarana Special Reserve in Antsiranana Province in northern Madagascar. The present work adds further material from this locality, plus several more specimens from two other localities in the Analamerana Special Reserve in Antsiranana Province ( Fig. 4 ). We are also able to confirm the continued presence of M. humberti in Montagne des Français Special Reserve near the coastal city of Antsiranana (formerly Diego-Suarez), adding to the previous record which was based on specimens collected in 1899 (MNHN-B 5034) ( Cumberlidge & Sternberg 2002). This species has also been reported to occur on the island of Nosy Be in Antsiranana Province (ZSM 1163/1; SMF 4487) ( Cumberlidge & Sternberg 2002). Two new localities for M. humberti are reported here: Baie de Sakalava (Köhler-Stelle, inland locality) and the Passe de Orangea Reserve, both of which are relatively close to the city of Antsiranana in Antsiranana Province.

Remarks

Madagapotamon humberti is one of the most distinctive species of all of the Madagascan freshwater crabs and this colorful, long-legged, rock-crevice and cave-dwelling species stands apart from all others on the island. M. humberti can easily be distinguished by the absence of a flagellum on the exopod of the third maxilliped, by the mandibular palp with a simple terminal segment, and by the egg-shaped outline of the adult male abdomen. Living specimens from the Ankarana Special Reserve have a yellow carapace, pink legs, and chelipeds with white fingers, while those from Montagne des Français Reserve have an all-white carapace, along with pink legs and chelipeds with white fingers.

Figures

Fig. 4. Distribution map of northern Madagascar showing the seven localities (black circles) where freshwater crabs were collected in the present study: Foza manonae sp. nov. (white circles), F. ambohitra (triangle), and Madagapotamon humberti (squares).