Rocky River Crayfish
Scientific Name: Cambarus P. hobbsorum
Classification: Nongame Fish - Crustacean
Glossary
References
Abundance
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Detailed Information
National Range: North Carolina
NC Physiographic Region(s): Piedmont; limits of range unclear
River Basin(s): currently known from Upper Cape Fear and middle Yadkin-Pee Dee River basins; likely has wider range
Adult Habitat: unknown
Reproductive Season: late summer, fall
Species associates: Procambarus (O.) acutus and Cambarus (D.) latimanus in Cape Fear; P. acutus and C. (D.) reduncusin Yadkin-Pee Dee; other members of the C. (P.) acuminatus complex have been found at nearby sites in both river basins but not at the same site
Conservation status: not protected
Identification and Illustrations references: Cooper 2001
Taxonomic Description:
- body shape: dorsoventrally flattened; thoracic section with punctations and granulations dorsally and cobbled tubercles laterally;cephalic section with tubercles
- coloration: variable but generally in shades of olive, green, blue-green, black and highlighted with tan, white, or orangeish tubercles (appears densely spotted) and ventrally; lateral surface of entire propodus of chelae bright orange, fading onto cheliped, tips of fingers orange, tan, or yellowish
- spines: hepatic tubercles; branchiostegal tubercle or obsolete; single cervical spine or large spiniform tubercle; cephalic spine or tubercle
- rostrum: long and acuminate, with strongly converging margins to acumen (acumen often "caret-shaped"); narrow overall; lacking median carina
- areola: narrow and long
- chelae: palm inflated; dorsal surface with squamous tubercles;costate distolateral and dorsolateral margins; mesial margin of palm with 2 rows of tubercles; strong to moderate dorsolongitudinal ridges on fingers; long plumose setae on opposable surface of fixed finger (adults and juveniles)
- other characteristics: subtriangular outline of abdominal pleura; eyes large; suborbital angle subacute or obtuse
- form I male gonopod: symmetrical; having a "disklike" caudal knob at base of central projection; central projection corneous, not tapered,and curved at about 90 degrees from shaft axis, with strong subapical notch; mesial process inflated, directed caudoproximally, and tapering to 2 miniscule "spines"
Notes: separated from the species complex referred to as Cambarus (P.) sp. C (closely associated with C. (P.) acuminatus); required emending description of subgenus Puncticambarus to accomodate this species; because C. hobbsorum occurs in same range as other members of complex, it is hard to assign previous collections to the correct species without voucher specimens
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. 2001. Cambarus (Puncticambarus) hobbsorum, a new crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from North Carolina. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 114(1): 152-161.
