Faxonella blairi Hayes and Reimer, 1977

Morehouse, Reid L. & Tobler, Michael, 2013, Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 101-157 : 125-126

Faxonella blairi Hayes and Reimer, 1977 : Blair's Fencing Crayfish

General charateristics. A small bodied crayfish with a bullet shaped carapace tapering towards the head that rarely exceeds 50 mm in total length. The rostrum is broad and without lateral spines or tubercles. The areola is open. Chelae are narrow and cylindrical with short abruptly tapering fingers that are shorter than palm length. In form I males, gonopods terminate in two terminal processes and the central projection of the gonopod is long, conspicuous, and reaches the base of the first pereiopods. Mesial process is long and thin. In ventral view, the gonopods cross each other. In females, the annulus ventralis is fused to the sternum with two prominent knobs on its anterior margin (Hayes & Reimer, 1977).

Life coloration. The background color is reddish-tan to olive-tan, with two black lines or dashes extending longitudinally along the dorsal surface of carapace and abdomen ( Figure 41 ). The ventral side is tan to white.

Similar species. In Oklahoma, F. blairi closely resembles F. clypeata . Faxonella clypeata differs in form I males by the central projection of gonopods reaching the base of the first pereiopods and having longer and thinner mesial processes. In females, it differs from F. clypeata by the annulus ventralis being firmly embedded in the sternum.

Distribution and habitat. Faxonella blairi is a tertiary burrower and occurs in the Gulf Coastal Plain of southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, northeastern Texas, and northwestern Louisiana. In Oklahoma, F. blairi has only been collected at three locations in McCurtain County, including a swamp located near the Little River and roadside ditches. Our niche model suggests that suitable environmental conditions for F. blairi may also exist north of the Ouachita Mountains in low-lying areas and west along the Red River ( Figure 42 ).

Life history. Faxonella blairi presumably has similar life history characteristics as F. clypeata (see below) as these species are closely related.

Syntopic species. Cambarellus puer and Procambarus clarkii .

Conservation status. AFS: Currently Stable; Heritage Rank: Vulnerable (G3); IUCN: Least Concern; ODWC: Tier 2.

Additional resources. Hobbs (1990).

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 44. 37. Cambarus tartarus 38. Potential distribution of Cambarus tartarus (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) 39. Fallicambarus fodiens 40. Potential distribution of Fallicambarus fodiens 41. Faxonella blairi 42. Potential distribution of Faxonella blairi 43. Faxonella clypeata 44. Potential distribution of Faxonella clypeata.