Somanniathelphusa zanklon
| Somanniathelphusa zanklon | |
|---|---|
_Figure_2,_Somanniathelphusa_zanklon.jpg)
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Gecarcinucidae |
| Genus: | Somanniathelphusa |
| Species: | S. zanklon
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| Binomial name | |
| Somanniathelphusa zanklon Ng & Dudgeon, 1992
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Somanniathelphusa zanklon is a species of endangered freshwater crab considered to be endemic to Hong Kong.
Ecology and behavior
[edit]The lifecycle of S. zanklon is similar to most true freshwater crabs, in which they brood over planktonic larvae, and release their juveniles at the onset of the rainy season.[2]
It is naturally omnivorous, with records of it eating seeds of the Bauhinia variegata tree, as well as various species of freshwater snails.[3]
It is preyed upon by both native wild carp, as well as invasive goldfish and tilapia, which have been introduced to their environment through human intervention.[4]
Habitat and range
[edit]It prefers living in slow moving streams or lowland marshes, was originally described from specimens from the lower Lam Tsuen River and the So Kwun Wat area of Hong Kong. Studies have shown that is tolerant to organic pollution, and can be found in irrigation ditches around the New Territories.[3]
Conservation
[edit]In 2019, a large population of S. zanklon was found at the site of further development of the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.[5] The Hong Kong branch of the World Wildlife Fund lobbied at the Environmental Protection Department to stop development of the site, due to the potential disruption of their native habitat.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ Esser, L.; Cumberlidge, N. (2008). "Somanniathelphusa zanklon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T134062A3888493. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T134062A3888493.en. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
- ^ Dudgeon, D., & Corlett, R. (1994). Hills and streams: An ecology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press.
- ^ a b Stanton, David J.; Leven, Michael R. (2016-03-26). "Distribution, habitat utilisation and conservation status of the freshwater crab, Somanniathelphusa zanklon Ng & Dudgeon, 1992 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) endemic to Hong Kong". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 8 (3): 8564. doi:10.11609/jott.2070.8.3.8564-8574. ISSN 0974-7907.
- ^ Ove Arup & Partners 2002, 2007, 2009, 2013a,b; Mott MacDonald 2010; Meinhardt 2012
- ^ "Meet 7 of Hong Kong's most vulnerable species". Young Post. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ "Could a rare crab save the Hong Kong Golf Club from bulldozers?". South China Morning Post. 2019-06-27. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ Yeung Wun Lam; Kwok Chi Lok; Chan Yu Him (2022-10-12). 無「蟹」可擊. ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved 2025-02-17.