''Potamon'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from

Southern Europe Southern Europe is the southern regions of Europe, region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is essentially marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of Southern Europe include some or all of these countrie ...

through the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

, and as far east as north-western

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only potamid of mainland Africa. Twenty species are currently recognised:. These crabs are omnivores that have a broad ecological tolerance. The adult Potaman reach up to 50 mm in size during their 10-12 year life span. *''

Potamon algeriense ''Potamon algeriense'' is a freshwater crab found in North Africa. Systematics ''Potamon algeriense'' is a close relative of the European species ''Potamon fluviatile'', of which it was formerly considered a subspecies. Biogeography ''Potamon a ...

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Potamon bileki ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon bilobatum ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon fluviatile ''Potamon fluviatile'' is a freshwater crab found in or near wooded streams, rivers and lakes in Southern Europe. It is an omnivore with broad ecological tolerances, and adults typically reach in size during their 10–12 year lifespan. They inh ...

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Potamon gedrosianum ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon hueceste ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon ibericum ''Potamon ibericum'' is a Eurasian species of freshwater crab. It is an omnivore that feeds on land, but returns regularly to the water, and can survive short periods of drought in burrows and under stones. Its range (biology), natural range stre ...

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Potamon magnum ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon mesopotamicum ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon monticola ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon pelops ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon persicum ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon potamios ''Potamon potamios'' is a semi-terrestrial crab occurring around the eastern Mediterranean, including many Mediterranean islands, extending as far south and west as the Sinai Peninsula The Sinai Peninsula, or simply Sinai (now usually ) (, ...

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Potamon rhodium ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon ruttneri ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon setigerum ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon strouhali ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon transcaspicum ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon ilam ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

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Potamon elbursi ''Potamon'' is a genus of freshwater or semiterrestrial crabs mainly found from Southern Europe through the Middle East, and as far east as north-western India. The only exception is the North African ''P. algeriense'', which also is the only ...

'' Many other taxa from

Indochina Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...

, originally described as species of ''Potamon'', are now placed in other genera, such as '' Himalayapotamon'', '' Beccumon'', ''

Eosamon ''Eosamon'' is a genus of freshwater crabs Around 1,300 species of freshwater crabs are distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, divided among eight families. They show direct development and maternal care of a small number of offsp ...

'', and '' Takpotamon''.

References

Potamoidea Taxa named by Marie Jules César Savigny Decapod genera {{crab-stub