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Cambarus

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RN1970 (talk | contribs) at 14:59, 29 September 2018 (→‎Habitat: rm. misleading wiki link (that's only one form of pollution and not the primary issue for this genus [not supported by ref either], which is relatively temperature resistent. Their main issue is chemicals in the water, notably certain metals [e.g., copper-based, highly toxic to crustaceans])). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Cambarus
Cambarus scotti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Astacidea
Superfamily:
Astacoidea
Family:
Cambaridae
Genus:
Cambarus

Erichson, 1846
Type species
Astacus Bartonii
Fabricius, 1798 [1]

Cambarus is a large and diverse genus of crayfish from the United States and Canada. The adults range in size from about 5 centimeters (2 in) up to approximately 15 centimeters (6 in).

Description

The genus Cambarus is the second largest freshwater crayfish genus inhabiting the Northern Hemisphere, with only sixty fewer species than the genus Procambarus.[2] Though Cambarus are varied across species, the two terminal elements that make up the male form I gonopod form ninety degree angles with the central appendage, allowing for their identification. Unlike the genus Procambarus whose first pleopod tends to have three processes at the tip, Cambarus has only one or two.[2] Cambarus reach 17–26 mm carapace lengths in their first year, while average adult carapace length ranges from 55–62 mm.[3]

As a genus containing nearly 100 species, Cambarus's coloration is variable.[2] Cambarus bartonii is dark brown, while species like Cambarus pauleyi range from subtle to vibrant blues and reds.[2] Other species are light green or grayish in color.[2]

Biogeography

Most species of Cambarus are restricted to the United States and Canada. They are distributed along the eastern coast, extending from New Brunswick to northern Florida.[2] However, the genus extends as far westward as the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Colorado, inhabiting a variety of freshwater environments.[4] Devil crayfish (Cambarus diogenes) are perhaps the most widespread species in the genus, having been found in thirty states spanning approximately 2 million kilometers.[4] Though, most species of Cambarus are not so widely distributed.[3]

Habitat

Cambarus occupy a range of freshwater environments including streams, rivers, lakes, and burrows. Burrowing species of the genus include Cambarus dubius.[2] Cambarus also include many cave-dwelling species, both troglobites and troglophiles.[3] While salinity and temperature changes minimally affect Cambarus, the genus has shown an intolerance to pollution.[5]

Ecology

Diet

Like other crayfish, Cambarus are foragers. Diets are largely plant-based, though Cambarus also consume small marine organisms like molluscs, larvae, tadpoles and amphibian eggs. Cambarus consume small rodents or birds when available.[3] In their first year, Cambarus typically consume 1-4% of their overall body-weight each day.[3] The genus is central to many freshwater food webs as they help maintain water quality through consumption of algae.[5]

Vulnerability

One of the largest crayfish genera, Cambarus includes a sizable number of vulnerable species.[5] Cave-dwellers like Cambarus jonesi are at risk due to their lack of genetic diversity and low population count. Other species like Cambarus veteranus are at risk due to human practices like logging and mining, which increase sediment amounts in freshwater environments.[2] Increased sediment causes these freshwater environments to be inhabitable, and Cambarus are forced to relocate as a result.[2]

Behavior

Growth

Moulting occurs among Cambarus approximately 5-10 times during their first year, and 3-5 times during subsequent years. Cambarus remain relatively inactive during periods of moulting, as the shedding of chitin exoskeletons leaves them more vulnerable to predation and injury.[3] Many species of Cambarus continue to grow well into adulthood.[3]

Reproduction

Cambarus typically mate in the early spring. Both Cambarus bartonii and Cambarus robustus only mate once during their three-year life span, with females of both carrying fewer eggs than those of the genus Orconectes.[3]

Image Name
Cambarus aculabrum
Cambarus georgiea
Cambarus monogalensis

Classification

The genus Cambarus contains around 100 species, divided among 12 subgenera,[6][7] many of which are listed on the IUCN Red List:[8]

Subgenus Aviticambarus Hobbs, 1969
Subgenus Cambarus Erichson, 1846
Subgenus Depressicambarus Hobbs, 1969
Subgenus Erebicambarus Hobbs, 1969
Subgenus Exilicambarus Bouchard & Hobbs, 1976
Subgenus Glareocola Bouchard & Bouchard, 1995
Subgenus Hiaticambarus Hobbs, 1969
Subgenus Jugicambarus Hobbs, 1969
Subgenus Lacunicambarus Hobbs, 1969
Subgenus Puncticambarus Hobbs, 1969
Subgenus Tubericambarus Jezerinac, 1993
Subgenus Veticambarus Hobbs, 1969

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cambarus.
  1. ^ Horton H. Hobbs, Jr. (1974). "A Checklist of the North and Middle American Crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae and Cambaridae)" (PDF). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 166 (166): 1–161. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.166.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Longshaw, Matt (2016). Biology and Ecology of Crayfish. New York: CRC Press. pp. 17–18. ISBN 9781498767323.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Holdich, David M. (2002). Biology of Freshwater Crayfish. London: Blackwell Science. pp. 609–613. ISBN 0-632-05431-X.
  4. ^ a b Cordeiro, J. (2014). "Cambarus diogenes". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved March 29, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Buhay, J; et al. (February 2007). "Molecular taxonomy in the dark: Evolutionary history, phylogeography, and diversity of cave crayfish in the subgenus Aviticambarus, genus Cambarus". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 42: 435–448 – via ScienceDirect. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  6. ^ James W. Fetzner, Jr. (January 14, 2008). "Genus Cambarus Erichson, 1846". Crayfish Taxon Browser. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "Cambarus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  8. ^ "Search". IUCN Red List. IUCN. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  9. ^ a b c Jennifer E. Buhay; Keith A. Crandall (2009). "Taxonomic revision of cave crayfish in the genus Cambarus subgenus Aviticambraus (Decapoda: Cambaridae) with descriptions of two new species, C. speleocoopi and C. laconensis, endemic to Alabama, U.S.A." (PDF). Journal of Crustacean Biology. 29 (1): 121–134. doi:10.1651/08-3089.1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Roger F. Thoma; Zachary J. Loughman; James W. Fetzner, Jr. (2014). "Cambarus (Puncticambarus) callainus, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the Big Sandy River basin in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, USA" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3900 (4): 541–554. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3900.4.5.
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