Distribution of the freshwater shrimp, Atyaephyra desmarestii (Millet, 1831) in Portugal (Decapoda, Natantia)

This article provides a literature review about the distribution of the freshwater shrimp, Atyaephyra desmarestii (Millet, 1831) in Portugal. The information obtained shows that A. desmarestii has been found in many Portuguese watercourses, including reservoirs, rice fields, coastal lagoons and temporary streams. Despite the ecological relevance of this shrimp in aquatic communities, scientific information about its distribution in the country is still fragmentary and scattered. Thus, in view of its potential use as a test organism for the biomonitoring of anthropogenic stress imposed on aquatic ecosystems, there is a need for further investigations so as to account for a complete picture of the area of distribution of the species in Portugal.