Recent advances in the biology of the Neotropical freshwater crab family Pseudothelphusidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura)

Pseudothelphusidae is a well diversified group of Neotropical freshwater crabs currently comprising 40 genera and at least 255 species and subspecies. The biology of these crabs has been an active field of research in the last 20 years. The aim of the present contribution is to discuss the significance of the new knowledge on the biology of these freshwater crabs after September 1992, to stress the interconnection of the diverse lines of research and at the same time to suggest promising new lines of investigation. All taxa described from September 1992 to October 2004 are listed, including one genus, one subgenus, 62 species and five subspecies. The implications of this new knowledge on the taxonomy, systematic and biogeography of the family are commented.