Potamonautidae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Potamonautidae
Malagasy freshwater crab (Madagapotamon humberti), Ankarana Reserve, Madagascar
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Infraorder:	Brachyura
Superfamily:	Potamoidea
Family:	Potamonautidae Bott, 1970

Potamonautidae (say: Poh-tah-moh-NAW-tih-day) is a special group, or family, of freshwater crabs. These crabs are found only in Africa and its nearby islands. This means they are endemic to this region. You can find them in places like Madagascar, the Seychelles, Zanzibar, and other islands.

What are Potamonautidae Crabs?

Potamonautidae crabs are a big family! They include 18 different groups, called genera (say: JEN-uh-rah), and 138 different kinds of crabs, called species. Imagine all the different shapes, sizes, and colors these crabs can have!

Where Do They Live?

These crabs live in freshwater. This means you'll find them in rivers, streams, and lakes across Africa. They are an important part of the ecosystems in these watery places.

Crabs from the Past

Scientists have even found old remains of these crabs! These fossils show that crabs from the Potamonautidae family have been around for a very long time. Some fossils date back to the Late Miocene period. That was millions of years ago!

Different Types of Potamonautidae Crabs

The Potamonautidae family is divided into smaller groups called subfamilies. Each subfamily contains different genera of crabs. Here are the main subfamilies and some examples of the genera they include: