Papers by Neil Cumberlidge
Journal of Crustacean Biology, 1993
Freshwater habitats of the Caribbean island Jamaica are unique, in so far that they are not inhab... more Freshwater habitats of the Caribbean island Jamaica are unique, in so far that they are not inhabited by freshwater Decapoda Reptantia with a long evolutionary history in fresh water, like crayfish or old lineages of freshwater crabs. Instead, a relatively young invasion and radiation of originally coastal crabs from the family Sesarmidae took place, resulting in currently ten endemic sesarmid species that are recognized from the island. Six of those have been described from Jamaican brooks and streams (river crabs), whereas the other four species thrive in caves and more terrestrial habitats. After establishing and describing the diversity of Jamaican river crabs at the species level, ongoing studies are designed to highlight presumed intraspecific differentiation within the recognized species, as a means of understanding the diversification and rapid speciation processes of this adaptive radiation. Here we use mitochondrial DNA sequences of the ND1 gene and morphometrics to document diversity within river crabs from western Jamaica so far considered to belong to Sesarma dolphinum, complementing a recent population genetics study with nuclear DNA. Distinct evolutionary lineages can be recognized, of which two are so clearly separated that they do not share mitochondrial haplotypes nor do they show any overlap in morphometry. Interestingly, these lineages co-occur within the same river system, allowing first insights into the mechanisms of differentiation of these crabs. Ecological restriction to upper reaches of rivers isolates the crabs in different tributaries and thus genetic connectivity is apparently more likely to be maintained in overland dispersal between headwaters than within the river system. The distinct evolutionary lineage from the southeastern range of the distribution area of S. dolphinum is here described as a new species in order to highlight its uniqueness and to make it a management unit. A nested clade analysis reveals that the genetic relationship of populations of S. dolphinum is the result of restricted gene flow with isolation by distance. A literature review compiles other published reports for freshwater Crustacea with different evolutionary lineages in the same water catchment.
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Journal of Crustacean Biology, 1993
Two new species of West African fresh-water crabs are described from specimens in the Zoologische... more Two new species of West African fresh-water crabs are described from specimens in the Zoologisches Staatsinstitut und Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg, Germany, and from material in the author's collection. The new species are distinguished by a combination of characters of the gonopods, chelipeds, and carapace. These species are found in the rain forest zone of southwest Cameroon and southeast Nigeria, West Africa. They are compared to Potamonemus mambilorum Cumberlidge and Clark, 1992, the type species of the genus, and to other freshwater crabs in the family Potamonautidae occurring in West Africa. A key to distinguish between the three species in the genus Potamonemus is provided. An examination of fresh-water crabs from West and Central Africa held in the Zoologisches Staatsinstitut und Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg, Germany, revealed the existence of two new species of Potamonemus Cumberlidge and Clark, 1992, from Cameroon and Nigeria. These specimens differed significantly from Potamonemus mambilorum, the type species of this genus (Cumberlidge and Clark, 1992). The new species were discovered among material previously assigned (in unpublished opinions) to Sudanonautes Bott, 1955. The two species are distinguished by a combination of characters of the gonopods, chelipeds, and carapace. Some characters varied with age, with adult crabs having a relatively higher and wider carapace than juvenile crabs. The new species are compared to P. mambilorum and to the other fresh-water crabs in the family Potamonautidae occurring in West Africa. The right mandible and the right first and second gonopods were removed from the specimens to illustrate these structures under magnification. Four dimensions of the carapace-carapace width, carapace length, carapace thickness, and front width-were recorded from all available specimens using digital calipers. The relative proportions of the last 3 measurements (adjusted for body size, CL) of the 3 species of Potamonemus were calculated (Tables 1, 2, Figs. ). One-factor ANOVA repeated measures analysis was used to test for significant differences between the carapace proportions of the 3 species (Table ). A key to distinguish between the three species of Potamonemus was constructed.
Sudanonautes orthostylis Bott, 1955 a freshwater crab from West Africa is redescribed exclusively... more Sudanonautes orthostylis Bott, 1955 a freshwater crab from West Africa is redescribed exclusively from type material. The species is now rec ognized by a combination of characters of the carapace, chelipeds, and gono pods, which are illustrated. It is compared to other species of Sudanonautes Bott, 1955, and to the other genera of freshwater crabs occurring in West Africa. The species is restricted to the tropical rain forest zone of southwest Cameroon, West Africa.
The East African freshwater crab Potamonautes obesus (A Milne-Edwards, 1868) (family Potamonautid... more The East African freshwater crab Potamonautes obesus (A Milne-Edwards, 1868) (family Potamonautidae) is redescribed from a large series of specimens from Tanzania and Somalia, and Potamon (Potamonautes) bottegoi de Man, 1898 is judged to be a junior objective synonym of P. obesus. The related taxon, Potamonautes calcaratus (Gordon, 1929) from Mozambique and South Africa, is recognised here as a valid species and is redescribed from type material. The distributions of P. obesus and P. calcaratus are described and discussed.
Phylogenetic reconstruction, divergence time estimations and ancestral range estimation were unde... more Phylogenetic reconstruction, divergence time estimations and ancestral range estimation were undertaken for 66% of the Afrotropical freshwater crab fauna (Potamonautidae) based on four partial DNA loci (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase one [COI], and histone 3). The present study represents the most comprehensive taxonomic sampling of any freshwater crab family globally, and explores the impact of paleodrainage interconnectivity on cladogenesis among freshwater crabs. Phylogenetic analyses of the total evidence data using maximum-likelihood (ML), maximum parsimony (MP), and Bayesian inference (BI) produced a robust statistically well-supported tree topology that reaffirmed the monophyly of the Afrotropical freshwater crab fauna. The estimated divergence times suggest that the Afrotropical Potamonautidae diverged during the Eocene. Cladogenesis within and among several genera occurred predominantly during the Miocene, which was associated with major tectonic and climatic ameliorations throughout the region. Paleodrainage connectivity was observed with specimens from the Nilo-Sudan and East African coast proving to be sister to specimens from the Upper Guinea Forests in West Africa. In addition, we observed strong sister taxon affinity between specimens from East Africa and the Congo basin, including specimens from Lake Tanganyika, while the southern African fauna was retrieved as sister to the Angolan taxa. Within the East African clade we observed two independent transoceanic dispersal events, one to the Seychelles Archipelago and a second to Madagascar, while we observe a single transoceanic dispersal event from West Africa to São Tomé. The ancestral area estimation suggested a West African/East African ancestral range for the family with multiple dispersal events between southern Africa and East Africa, and between East Africa and Central Africa The taxonomic implications of our results are discussed in light of the widespread paraphyly evident among a number of genera.
A recent collection of freshwater Potamonautid crabs from a newly-explored cave in Ethiopia inclu... more A recent collection of freshwater Potamonautid crabs from a newly-explored cave in Ethiopia included a new species of Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838, which is described. The new species is associated with caves but is not troglobitic because it has no special morphological adaptations for life in caves typical of other species of cave-dwelling freshwater crabs. The taxonomic status and biogeographic affinities of other Ethiopian freshwater crab species are discussed. Potamonautes antheus (Colosi, 1920) and P. ignestii (Parisi, 1923) are recognized as valid species, and a key to the species of the country is included. The addition of P. kundudo sp. nov. and the recognition of two previously suppressed taxa raises to six the number of freshwater crab taxa known to occur in Ethiopia.
The ecology of two species of tree-climbing crabs, Malagasya antongilensis (Rathbun, 1905) (Potam... more The ecology of two species of tree-climbing crabs, Malagasya antongilensis (Rathbun, 1905) (Potamonautidae) and Labuanium gracilipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) (Sesarmidae), collected from container microhabitats (phytotelmata) in rainforest in the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar, is described. This is a rare report of a tree-climbing phytotelmic sesarmid crab living in the rainforest canopy, and the first record of a species of true freshwater crab in the canopy, albeit at a relatively low height. The difficult-to-access rainforest canopy surveys were made as part of the Canopy Raft Program (Radeau des Cimes). The occurrence of crabs in water-filled plant containers in rainforest habitats is discussed.
Parasitology, Sep 13, 2018
Paragonimiasis, human lung fluke disease, is a foodborne anthropozoonosis caused by the trematode... more Paragonimiasis, human lung fluke disease, is a foodborne anthropozoonosis caused by the trematodes assigned to Paragonimus and is regarded by the World Health Organization as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). The life cycle of this medically important parasite centres on a complex freshwater biological community that includes two intermediate hosts: a mollusc and a decapod, usually a brachyuran. Although there is a perception that the biology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Paragonimus is well understood, in reality, this is not the case, especially in Africa. Much remains unknown concerning the life-cycle of the parasite, its transmission, the current epidemiology of the disease, diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment. Furthermore, cases of paragonimiasis may be misdiagnosed as resistant tuberculosis (TB) because of the similar pulmonary symptoms and no remission after anti TB therapy. The endemic foci of human paragonimiasis in Africa have been reported mainly in the forest zones of Upper Guinea (Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast) and Lower Guinea (Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon). Despite the perceived medical importance of paragonimiasis, relatively little attention has been paid to this NTD since its discovery in Africa in the 1960s. This review focuses on the current understanding of the life cycle and transmission of Paragonimus in Africa, discusses its diagnosis and public health importance and highlights many outstanding gaps in the knowledge that still exist for this NTD.
Journal of Crustacean Biology, May 24, 2023
Nheena n. gen. is established to accommodate the Madagascan freshwater crab Hydrothelphusa vences... more Nheena n. gen. is established to accommodate the Madagascan freshwater crab Hydrothelphusa vencesi Cumberlidge, Marijnissen &amp; Thompson, 2007 that was formerly included in Hydrothelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1872. In addition, N. museonatoran. sp. and N. artiareginan. sp. are established and these new taxa are recognized based on a combination of morphological characters and previous molecular data; are all illustrated. The three species assigned to Nheenan. gen. are compared with each other and with other species of freshwater crabs found in Madagascar, and a map of their distribution is included.
The taxonomy of three species of freshwater crabs from the Upper Congo River in the Democratic Re... more The taxonomy of three species of freshwater crabs from the Upper Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Potamonautes congoensis (Rathbun, 1921), P. langi (Rathbun, 1921), and P. stanleyensis (Rathbun, 1921), is revised based on examination of the holotypes. Updated diagnoses, illustrations, and distribution maps are provided for these species, and their conservation status is discussed.
PubMed, Mar 1, 1989
Microcercous cercariae have been recovered from the snail Homorus (Striosubulina) striatella RANG... more Microcercous cercariae have been recovered from the snail Homorus (Striosubulina) striatella RANG. which were collected in a focus of human lung fluke disease in Liberia, West Africa, and are here described. Metacercariae of Paragonimus uterobilateralis were isolated from freshwater crabs (Liberonautes latidactylus) captured at the same location, and at the same time, as the infected snails. The dimensions of the Liberian cercariae have been found to differ markedly from those of a cercaria from Cameroon previously described as that of Paragonimus africanus. The structure and dimensions of the Liberian cercariae clearly resemble those of the cercariae of other species of Paragonimus from Asia and America.
Journal of Crustacean Biology, Aug 11, 2021
A new genus and two new species of Forsteriini Tippmann, 1960 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae... more A new genus and two new species of Forsteriini Tippmann, 1960 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) are described from Peru: Obereoides peruviensis sp. nov., and Morvanica demezi, gen. nov., sp. nov.. A key to species of Obereoides Fisher, 1938 is provided. Morvanica is included in a previous key to genera of the tribe.
PubMed, Mar 1, 1991
Large populations of the dwarf river crab Liberonautes latidactylus nanoides Cumberlidge & Sachs,... more Large populations of the dwarf river crab Liberonautes latidactylus nanoides Cumberlidge & Sachs, 1989, collected from the St. Paul river at the Haindi/Mauwa focus of paragonimiasis in Liberia were examined for parasitization by the human lung fluke, Paragonimus uterobilateralis. Four specimens out of 763 L. l. nanoides proved to be positive for P. uterobilateralis (0.52%), and each of these specimens contained only 1 metacercaria. The dwarf river crab forms the basis of a seasonal commercial fishery in Liberia, and it is sold for human consumption in rural markets. However, the low levels of parasitization of L. l. nanoides, together with its limited seasonal availability make it doubtful that L. l. nanoides constitutes a public health risk to the rural population of Liberia.
PubMed, Mar 1, 1995
A study was carried out in 1993 in south Cameroon in order to assess the changes in the incidence... more A study was carried out in 1993 in south Cameroon in order to assess the changes in the incidence rate of human paragonimiasis, and to get information on the transmission pattern of Paragonimus sp. Two human cases have been recorded, and one dog was found infected in the Ntem Valley. The results suggest that a decrease of the incidence rate of paragonimiasis occurred in humans and animals. Paragonimus metacercariae were found in three species of freshwater crabs: Sudanonautes africanus, S. aubryi et S. granulatus, the latter being a new host. Prevalence of infection in crabs increased southerly, and significant seasonal changes were found. Two cats were infested with metacercariae from S. africanus, and studies are in progress to identify the parasite(s) at a specific level.
Zootaxa, Mar 9, 2017
A new polypore, Postia hirsuta sp. nov., collected in Shaanxi Province, central China, is describ... more A new polypore, Postia hirsuta sp. nov., collected in Shaanxi Province, central China, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological characters and molecular data. This fungus is characterized by an annual growth, pileate basidiocarps with a mousegrey and hirsute pileal surface, a white to straw-colored pore surface, a monomitic hyphal system with thick-walled generative hyphae, and allantoid to cylindrical basidiospores (4-4.8 × 1-1.2 μm). Phylogenetic inferences based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and nuclear large subunit (nLSU) ribosomal RNA gene regions supported Postia hirsuta as a distinct species in Postia.
Elsevier eBooks, 1978
ABSTRACT Heart and scaphognathite activities, at various phases of the digging process, are descr... more ABSTRACT Heart and scaphognathite activities, at various phases of the digging process, are described for Carcinus maenas. The activities described are discussed in terms of their possible advantages to a buried animal and compared with some similar data on Cancer pagurus.
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Papers by Neil Cumberlidge