Introduction of an indochinese freshwater crab Sayamia germaini (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) to Taiwan: Morphological and molecular evidence

Abstract

Freshwater crabs of the genus Sayamia (family Gecarcinucidae) are native to Indochina and northern Peninsular Malaysia. Recently, individuals of Sayamia were collected from the coastal areas of Kaohsiung, southwestern Taiwan. The species is identified as S. germaini (Rathbun, 1902) [from southern Vietnam and Cambodia] by morphological characters as well as 16S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase I DNA sequences. Individuals shared identical haplotypes, which suggest that they are derived from a small founder population. The possible source and pathways of introduction of this alien species and its potential impacts on Taiwanese aquatic biodiversity, human health, and agriculture are discussed. © National University of Singapore.