THE GLOBONAUTINAE BOTT, 1969, FRESH-WATER CRABS FROM WEST-AFRICA (BRACHYURA, POTAMOIDEA, GECARCINUCIDAE)

The taxonomy of the African gecarcinucid flesh-water crabs in the Glob onautinae Bott, 1969, is reviewed. The subfamily is recognised by a ma ndibular palp with a terminal segment with two large, subequal-sized l obes, by a third maxilliped which lacks a flagellum on the exopod, by a straight-sided triangular male abdomen, and by a West African origin . The Globonautinae are compared with the other subfamilies of the Gec arcinucidae Rathbun, 1904. Gecarcinautes brincki Bott, 1960, is remove d from the Gecarcinucidae and reassigned to the Potamonautidae. Keys t o distinguish the families of African fresh-water crabs and the subfam ilies of the Gecarcinucidae are included, and the biogeographical impl ications of the taxonomic revision are discussed.