Cambarus diogenes Girard, 1852

Morehouse, Reid L. & Tobler, Michael, 2013, Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 101-157 : 122-123

Cambarus diogenes Girard, 1852 : Devil Crawfish

General charateristics. A stout crayfish with broad chelae that rarely exceeds 127 mm in total length. The carapace is approximately equal in length to the abdomen and somewhat laterally compressed. The head is narrower than the thorax and the areola is closed. The rostrum is broad and deeply excavated with a short acumen that lacks spines or tubercles. The lateral edge of the second abdominal segment is arched. Chelae are large and heavy with the dactyl just longer than the palm length. The dactyl has a broad notch at the base, which is most prominent in form I males. In form I males, central projection of the gonopod is corneous, recurved approximately 90° to the shaft, short, and bladelike. In females, the cephalic margin of the annulus ventralis is broadly rounded, while the caudal margin is triangular and has a deep horizontal fossa (Taylor & Schuster, 2004).

Life coloration. Nearly uniform olive-drab to tan and brown in color ( Figure 31 ). The tips of chelae, rostrum, uropods, and telson are all lined with a deep orange to red coloration. Occasionally, specimens from the prairie region will have a golden stripe along the midline of the abdomen. The ventral side is cream to white in color.

Similar species. In Oklahoma, Cambarus diogenes closely resembles Cambarus ludovicianus . It can be differentiated from C. ludovicianus by the shape of the abdomen. In lateral view, the abdomen of C. diogenes is thicker than in C. ludovicianus and the lateral edge of the second abdominal segment is arched in C. diogenes but straight in C. ludovicianus . Cambarus ludovicianus also has three lateral stripes running along the sides and top of the abdomen.

Distribution and habitat. Cambarus diogenes is widely distributed throughout the eastern United States, south of the Great Lakes and east of the Rocky Mountains (Hobbs, 1989). In Oklahoma, this species is known from a few locations in McCurtain and Choctaw Counties in the southeast (Creaser & Ortenburger, 1933; Hobbs, 1989; Reimer, 1969). Cambarus diogenes may also be found further west and north according to our ecological niche model ( Figure 32 ). Cambarus diogenes is commonly collected from excavating burrows in or along creek banks, wet depressional areas, and roadside ditches. In Oklahoma, both collection locations were creeks, which this species typically visits during the spring months to release offspring into standing water. Due to the burrowing behavior (primary burrower) of C. diogenes and a lack of targeted sampling efforts, its distribution may be broader than currently known.

Life history. Form I males have been collected March through October in most states (Grow, 1981, 1982; Grow & Merchant, 1980; Page, 1985; Pflieger, 1996; Turner, 1926; Walls, 2009). Ovigerous females have been collected in March and April, and females with young in May (Hobbs & Marchand, 1943; Penn & Marlow, 1959; Taylor & Schuster, 2004). In Missouri, Pflieger (1996) reported that mating takes place in the fall months. Females appear to lay and incubate their eggs while in the burrow, but release offspring into open water in spring (Pflieger, 1996). We have collected form II males and females in the spring.

Syntopic species. Fallicambarus fodiens and Procambarus simulans .

Conservation status. AFS: Currently Stable; Heritage Rank: Widespread (G5); IUCN: Least Concern; ODWC: Not Listed.

Additional resources. Grow (1981, 1982); Grow & Merchant (1980).

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 36. 29. Cambarellus puer 30. Potential distribution of Cambarellus puer 31. Cambarus diogenes 32. Potential distribution of Cambarus diogenes 33. Cambarus ludovicianus 34. Potential distribution of Cambarus ludovicianus 35. Cambarus subterraneus 36. Potential distribution of Cambarus subterraneus (distribution map was not made for this species due to it subterranean lifestyle; climatic variables outside the cave systems do not accurately represent the climate within the cave).