Orconectes meeki brevis Williams

Morehouse, Reid L. & Tobler, Michael, 2013, Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 101-157 : 131

Orconectes meeki brevis Williams , 152: Meek's Short Pointed Crayfish

General charateristics. Adults rarely exceed 60 mm in total length. The carapace is subovate, slightly depressed, and the areola is open. The rostrum is divergent at the base and is slightly ridged dorsally, while the acumen is blunt and lacking lateral spines. In form I males, gonopods terminate in two slender processes both curved caudally at 90° to the shaft. In females, the annulus ventralis is firmly fused to sternum (Williams, 1952).

Life coloration. The background color is reddish brown to brown. Darker markings around the cervical groove and the posterior end of the carapace are present ( Figure 59 ). Chelae have scattered dark spots. There is a pronounced dark spot at the base of the dactyl. Fingers are usually tipped with orange. The ventral side is cream to white.

Similar species. In Oklahoma, O. meeki brevis closely resembles O. macrus and O. nana . It can be differentiated from the two by the black speckling on the chelae and the antennal scale being widest anterior to the midpoint.

Distribution and habitat. Orconectes meeki brevis is restricted to the upper Illinois River and Spavinaw Creek drainage basins in northwestern Arkansas and northeastern Oklahoma. Along with the above drainages, our ecological niche model indicates that areas further downstream may provide suitable environmental conditions for this species ( Figure 60 ); however, no specimens could be found in these areas during our sampling efforts. Orconectes meeki brevis is a tertiary burrower and typically occurs in habitats with cobble substrate and clear, cool water. In addition, we have also collected O. meeki brevis in areas having accumulated leaf litter and root snags.

Life history. We have collected form I and II males and females from September through June. We have not collected any ovigerous females or females with young. Like other crayfish in the Ozark region, O. meeki brevis likely breeds in the fall and early winter..

Syntopic species. Orconectes macrus , Orconectes nana , and Orconectes neglectus .

Conservation status. AFS: Threatened; Heritage Rank: Imperiled (G2); IUCN: Least Concern; ODWC: Not Listed.

Additional resources. Williams (1954).

Figures

FIGURES 53 – 60. 53. Orconectes leptogonopodus 54. Potential distribution of Orconectes leptogonopodus 55. Orconectes macrus 56. Potential distribution of Orconectes macrus 57. Orconectes menae 58. Potential distribution of Orconectes menae 59. Orconectes meeki brevis 60. Potential distribution of Orconectes meeki brevis.