Carolina Needlenose Crayfish
Scientific Name: Cambarus P. aldermanorum
Classification: Nongame Fish - Crustacean
Glossary
References
Detailed Information
National Range: The Catawba and Saluda river basins of North and South Carolina (Cooper and Price 2010)
NC Physiographic Region(s): Piedmont Plateau
River Basin(s): Catawba
Distribution: Upper Piedmont and Foothills, Burke and Caldwell counties.
Adult Habitat: Found under, or near, rock outcroppings (Cooper and Price 2010)
Reproductive Season: unknown; Form I males seen in June and July.
Species associates: P. (O.) acutus, C. (D.) latimanus, C. (C.) cf. howardi, C. sp. C
Conservation status: not protected
Identification references: Cooper and Price 2010
Taxonomic Description:
- body shape: subcylindrical, moderately depressed
- coloration: ground color olivaceous or greenish-gray; dorsal surface of chela is aquamarine
- spines: hepatic spines; cervical spine;strong branchiostegal spine; cephalic spine or tubercle
- rostrum: long, narrow, lanceolate rostrum; narrow margins that strongly converge from base to cephalodorsally directed apical spine
- areola: 4-7 punctations across narrowest part
- chelae: mesial margin of palm with double row of tubercles; fingers moderately to strongly gaping; strong longitudinal ridges
- other characteristics: suborbitalangle obtuse to subacute
- form I male gonopod: shaft straight; central projection not tapered, curvedover 90° to plane of shaft, with moderate subapical notch; mesial processbulbous, tapered, constricted near tip, and directed caudolaterally; disklike caudal knob at base of central projection
Notes: “Morphologically, it is most similar to C. (P.) hobbsorum and C. (P.) hystricosus” (Cooper and Price 2010). First known occurrence in North Carolina was discovered in Johns River sub-basin in 2012.
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.
Illustrations
The following illustration is reproduced from:
Cooper, J.E., and J.E. Price. 2010. A new spinose crayfish of the genus Cambarus, subgenus Puncticambarus (Decapoda: Cambaridae), from South Carolina. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington.123(4):335-344.
Photographs
Credit NCWRC for all photos.
