Potamonautes platycentron
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
ARTHROPODA |
CRUSTACEA |
DECAPODA |
POTAMONAUTIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Potamonautes platycentron |
| Species Authority: |
(Hilgendorf, 1897) |
| Taxonomic Notes: |
Bott (1955) treated this species as Potamonautes (Lirrangopotamonautes) johnstoni platycentron. |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2008 |
| Assessor/s: |
Cumberlidge, N. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Crandall, K. and Daniels, S. and McIvor, A. |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
Potamonautes platycentron is listed as Endangered as its area of occupancy is less than 5.2 km² with a threat of increasing disturbance from growing human populations in the area. It has a very limited geographic range (narrow extent of occurrence and area of occupancy - 5.2 km²) and all individuals are in fewer than five locations all associated with one small lake (it is endemic to Lake Chala in Kenya/Tanzania). It has potentially low population levels (based on low representation in museum collections, and no recent additional material), and population size is estimated at greater than 250 but fewer than 2,500 mature individuals over the entire range. Note that the border between Kenya and Tanzania passes through this lake and the collection details do not indicate the country the specimens were taken from. Continuing decline in extent of occurrence is inferred from the fact that P. platycentron has been known to scientists for more than 100 years and yet still has only a poor representation in museum collections. It has been collected relatively recently (in the past 30 years).
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| History: |
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Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
Kenya and Tanzania: The type locality is Lake Chala spanning the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Potamonautes platycentron is endemic to Lake Chala (3°19’S, 37°41’E). The border between Kenya and Tanzania crosses the slopes of Kilimanjaro and passes through this crater lake. The locality information lists P. platycentron from Kenya but it is highly likely that this species is also found on the Tanzanian side of Lake Chala, so it is included in the list of species for Tanzania for completeness. |
| Countries: |
Native: Kenya; Tanzania, United Republic of |
| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
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| Population: |
It is difficult to estimate the population status and trends of this species, but its population is estimated to be declining, based on indirect measures such as the lack of recent collections of specimens, a poor representation in museum collections and increasing habitat disturbance associated with growing human populations in the region.
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| Population Trend: |
Unknown
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Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
Lake-living species.
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| Systems: |
Freshwater |
| Major Threat(s): |
Habitat loss and pollution.
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Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
No conservation measures are known to be in place for this species and it is not found in a protected area.
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