Pseudothelphusidae | |
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Guinotia dentata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Crustacea |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Section: | Eubrachyura |
Subsection: | Heterotremata |
Superfamily: |
Pseudothelphusoidea Ortmann, 1893 |
Family: |
Pseudothelphusidae Ortmann, 1893 |
Pseudothelphusidae is a family of freshwater crabs found chiefly in mountain streams in the Neotropics. They are believed to have originated in the Greater Antilles and then crossed to Central America via a Pliocene land bridge.
Pseudothelpshusids are of significance to humans because many species are secondary hosts for lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. Predators of pseuthelphusid crabs include the yellow-spotted river turtle and the tufted capuchin.
Forty genera are recognised: