Mahatha is a genus of freshwater crabs endemic to Sri Lanka. Four of the six species are critically endangered due to habitat loss,[1] and two are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Mahatha
Scientific classification
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Genus:
Mahatha

Ng & Tay, 2001
Type species
Mahatha adonis Ng & Tay, 2001
Species
  • Mahatha adonis Ng & Tay, 2001
  • Mahatha helaya Bahir & Ng, 2005
  • Mahatha iora Ng & Tay, 2001
  • Mahatha lacuna Bahir & Ng, 2005
  • Mahatha ornatipes (Roux, 1915)
  • Mahatha regina Bahir & Ng, 2005

Species edit

Mahatha adonis edit

Mahatha adonis is a widespread species, known from the Mahaweli Basin, Knuckles Massif and Monaragala. It is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.[2]

Mahatha helaya edit

Mahatha helaya is only known from its type locality, near Kalupahana on the main Colombo-Haputale road, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.[3] The specific epithet helaya comes from the Sinhalese word for an inhabitant of Sri Lanka.[4]

Mahatha iora edit

Mahatha iora is only known from its type locality, near the Dunhinda Falls, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.[5]

Mahatha lacuna edit

Mahatha lacuna is only known from its type locality, near Galle, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.[6] The specific epithet lacuna, from the Latin for "hole", refers to the deep burrow in which the species was found.[4]

Mahatha ornatipes edit

Mahatha ornatipes was originally described in 1915 by Roux as Paratelphusa ornatipes, and was later described as Ceylonthelphusa inflatissima Bott, 1970. It is widespread in the wet zone of Sri Lanka and is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.[7]

Mahatha regina edit

Mahatha regina is only known from its type locality, near Pundaluoya, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.[8] The specific epithet regina (Latin for "queen") refers to the species' "regal appearance".[4]

References edit

  1. ^ IUCN Sri Lanka & The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (2007). The 2007 Red List of Threatened Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka. ISBN 978-955-8177-63-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Esser, L.J.; Cumberlidge, N. (2008). "Mahatha adonis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T61707A12538797. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T61707A12538797.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. ^ Bahir, M.M.; Ng Kee Lin, P.; Crandall, K.A.; Pethiyagoda, R.; Cumberlidge, N. (2008). "Mahatha helaya". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T61708A12539189. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T61708A12539189.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Mohomed M. Bahir & Peter K. L. Ng (2005). "Descriptions of ten new species of freshwater crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Parathelphusida: Ceylonthelphusa, Mahatha, Perbrinckia) from Sri Lanka" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl. 12: 47–75.
  5. ^ Bahir, M.M.; Ng Kee Lin, P.; Crandall, K.A.; Pethiyagoda, R.; Cumberlidge, N. (2008). "Mahatha iora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T61709A12539587. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T61709A12539587.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  6. ^ Bahir, M.M.; Ng Kee Lin, P.; Crandall, K.A.; Pethiyagoda, R.; Cumberlidge, N. (2008). "Mahatha lacuna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T61710A12540209. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T61710A12540209.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  7. ^ Bahir, M.M.; Ng Kee Lin, P.; Pethiyagoda, R.; Crandall, K.A.; Cumberlidge, N. (2008). "Mahatha regina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T61712A12541080. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T61712A12541080.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  8. ^ Bahir, M.M.; Ng Kee Lin, P.; Crandall, K.A.; Pethiyagoda, R.; Cumberlidge, N. (2008). "Mahatha ornatipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T61711A12540713. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T61711A12540713.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.