The recent publication in the indexed magazine Zootaxa put the freshwater crab discovered in the La Honda stream, in the municipality of Ituango, Antioquia, on the international radar. This new species, called Hypolobocera ituangoensisgenerated great interest among the scientific community and local inhabitants.
The discovery, led by Moisés Taborda, a biologist from Corantioquia, and Martha Rocha from the Institute of Natural Sciences of the National University, also had the participation of the community of the village and the professionals Manuel José Arango, Genaro Graciano, Raúl Calle, Marcela Monsalve and the engineer Andrea Báez. The research team focused on the study and characterization of this species after awakening Taborda’s curiosity about freshwater crabs in Antioquia.
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“I have always been interested in studying the rare animals that inhabit our ecosystems,” said Moisés Taborda. His interest in these crustaceans began in 2018, with previous research that led him to believe in the possible existence of another species in the region.
In 2020, Taborda and Rocha confirmed the existence of a previously uncatalogued species, resident in the Zenú indigenous community, in Bajo Cauca: Phallangothelphusa zenuorum. Motivated by this discovery, Taborda continued exploring and reviewing samples collected through La Piragua, a Corantioquia program dedicated to monitoring and researching aquatic ecosystems.
By 2016, La Piragua records indicated an area of potential interest in the La Honda ravine, prompting Taborda to investigate further and establish contact with the local community. After months of efforts, they found a water source protected with special care by the inhabitants. The new samples taken in this environment revealed the presence of Hypolobocera ituangoensis, a species possibly endemic to this region.
The appearance of this new species not only represents a scientific advance, but also an indicator of the good state of the water resource and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems in Antioquia. It is particularly significant in areas of northern and lower Cauca, known for armed conflicts, extractive activities and wildlife hunting.
However, According to Corantioquia, these areas also harbor life and have communities committed to preserving their environment: “…they are spaces where there is life and an entire community concerned about taking care of the good conditions of the habitat.”
Freshwater crabs, like many other organisms, face a series of threats that put their survival and the integrity of their natural habitats at risk. The Humboldt Institute highlights some of the main threats:
- Development: Urbanization and the growth of metropolitan areas involve the construction of infrastructure that can significantly alter the natural habitats of freshwater crabs. The expansion of cities and residential areas often involves the destruction of natural areas and the contamination of water sources.
- Deforestation: the indiscriminate felling of forests for obtaining wood, agriculture or urban expansion destroys forest ecosystems that are vital for the sustenance of streams and ravines. The loss of forest cover alters the water regime and directly affects the quality of the water, essential for the life of crabs.
- Mining and oil: Mining and oil activities are some of the main threats due to the contamination of water bodies by heavy metals, toxic chemicals and oil spills. These contaminants can be lethal to crabs and other aquatic organisms, in addition to altering their environment and biological processes.
- Agriculture and aquaculture: the extensive use of pesticides and herbicides in agricultural practices significantly contaminates rivers and streams. Likewise, industrial aquaculture, with the intensive use of antibiotics and other chemicals, can have a negative impact on water quality and the balance of aquatic ecosystems.
- Roads and dams: The construction of roads and dams alters the natural flow of water bodies, fragments habitats and can isolate crab populations, making their reproduction and dispersal difficult. Additionally, sedimentation and pollution generated by these structures affect water quality and the environment.
- Foreign species: The introduction of exotic species can have devastating consequences for freshwater crabs, since they can compete for resources, prey on them or introduce diseases to which they are not adapted. The invasion of non-native species can completely alter the dynamics of the ecosystems where crabs live.
