black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Potamon tauricum Czerniavsky, 1884
Synonyms: Potamon antiquum Szombathy, 1916
Common names: Engl: Freshwater crab; Rom: Crab de apa dulce; Russ:
Presnovodny krab; Turk: Tatli su yengeci; Ukr: Prisnovodny krab
Taxonomic description. Adult carapax length up to 4cm, width up to 5 cm. Total
weight about 50 g. Ambulatory leg digits elongated. Shell olive-brown on its upper
part, and from light-brown to red underneath; nippers tinged with purple.
IUCN Status
World level: DD
Black Sea Regional level: DD
Subregion level: EN in Ukraine
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. This crab is an
inhabitant of mountain rivers and streams, but it is absent from their headwaters and
estuaries. Upstream distribution is limited by low water temperature; downstream, it
is obstructed by salinity and pollution. Crabs survive temporary droughts hiding in
deep burrows and cavities under stones, and use the underflow of river-beds. Crabs
occur in artificial ponds but do not breed in stagnant water. They visit land at night
and during rains, and can subsist without water for a long time in humid
environments. Known from Crimean, Caucasian, Anatolian and Bulgarian coastal
areas.
Order DECAPODA
Family POTAMIDAE
Biology. The animal is euryphagous, feeding on detritus, green filamentous algae,
fallen leaves, olygochaetes, amphipods, insect larvae, molluscs, frogs (including
tadpoles), fishes and carrion. Crabs will eat any plant or animal marterial in captivity.
Cannibalism is common. Copulation and spawning predominantly from June till
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