The freshwater crab
Apart from the numerous marine crabs that live in the sea and on the coast, on Naxos also occurs a crab species that lives in fresh water. It lives in the island’s perennial rivers, such as the river between Kinídaros and Engarés, near Potamiá and near Apóllonas. The naxian freshwater crabs belong to the species Potamon potamios, which occurs in the south-eastern Aegean, the eastern Mediterranean and the Levant.
Levantine freshwater crab, Potamon potamios, Olivier
The Levantine freshwater crab is a relatively large species; its body can reach a width of 7 cm. The carapace is rather smooth with many small, rounded teeth at the front. The enlarged claws of the front feet are quite large and powerful.
The Levantine freshwater crab occurs on various Aegean island where it has split into morphologically distinct subspecies. The Naxian crabs represent the subspecies Potamon potamios schoenmanni (Pretzmann). The subspecies are distinguished by the shape of their gonopods, i.e. modified legs used for mating.
The Levantine freshwater crabs can regularly be seen along several rivers on Naxos, mainly in the water, but occasionally also on the river banks or even at some distance from the river: they are semiterrestrial.
One of the most interesting inhabitants of the rivers of Naxos is the freshwater crab Potamon potamios.
They are usually seen walking around on the bottom of small pools.
An almost black specimen on land. The very dark colouring is characteristic of the Naxian subspecies.
Occasionally, the crabs can also be found quite far from the water. Photo by Reinard Schmitz
With a little skill, you can sometimes catch a crab.
As in all crab species the abdomen is tucked under the body.
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