Broad River Stream Crayfish

Scientific Name: Cambarus C lenati

Classification: Nongame Fish - Crustacean

Abundance

Description

National Range: "appears to be endemic to the First Broad River subdrainage of the upper Broad River basin of North Carolina" (Cooper 2000b)

NC Physiographic Region(s): western piedmont

River Basin(s): upper Broad

Adult Habitat: Lotic systems, small to medium streams, similar to C. (C.) bartonii

Reproductive Season: early June, late September, late November

Species associates: C. (J.) asperimanus, C. (P.) sp. C, and C.(P.) spicatus

Conservation status: undetermined because it was only recently described

Identification and Illustration reference: Cooper 2000b

Taxonomic Description:

body shape: slightly dorsoventrally flattened
coloration: variable – either solid or with saddle pattern and mottling; shades of brown, reddish-brown, and cream, "from greenish-brown to grayish-tan, with some juveniles approaching orangeish tan" (Cooper 2000b)
spines: cervical spines absent but may be cervical tubercle(s); branchiostegal spines weak (if present); cephalic spine or tubercle absent
rostrum: with subparallel margins, either blunt or converging acuminately to apex but not abnormally long (somewhat squarish); no marginal spines, and corneous tubercle at apex; possibly excavate or ladel-like dorsally
areola: medium-wide in width
chelae: generally smooth and large; with one row of adpressed tubercles along mesial margin of palm; moderately developed dorsolongitudinal ridges on fingers; slight pinch both dorsally and ventrally at base of fixed finger (similar to Puncticambarus subgenus); fingers may be gaping in large adults (particularly form I males)
other characteristics: suborbital angle acute or nearly so
form I male gonopod: corneous central projection with 90 degree mesial bend in the caudal portion; mesial process bulbous and tapering to point
Notes: most closely related to C. bartonii

Regulations

According to NC General Statue and NCWRC Regulation, it is unlawful to stock any fish (including shellfish and crustaceans) into public waters without a WRC permit. It is also unlawful to transport, purchase, possess, or sell any live individuals of virile crayfish (Orconectes (Gremicambarus) virilis), rusty crayfish (Orconectes (Procericambarus) rusticus), Australian “red claw” crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) or other species of “giant” crayfish species.

Crayfish Glossary Crayfish References

Illustrations

The following illustration is reproduced from:
Cooper, J.E. 2000. A new species of crayfish of the Genus Cambarus, subgenus Cambarus (Decapoda: Cambaridae), from the Broad River Basin of North Carolina. The Journal of Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society, 116(1): 1-12.

FIG. 1 Cambarus (Camparus) lenati, new species (all from holotypic male, form I, except E, F, I, from morphotypic male, form II, and L, from allotypic female): A, lateral aspect of carapace; B, E, lateral aspect of gonopod (first pleopod); C, F, mesial aspect of gonopod; D, dorsal aspect of carapace; G, caudal aspect of in situ gonopods; H, distal aspect of tip of left gonopod; I, caudal aspect of tips of gonopods; J, hook on ischium of third pereiopod; K, epistome; L, annulus ventralis and postannular sclerite; M, antennal scale; N, dorsal aspect of distal podomeres of left cheliped.