Orconectes tricuspis (Crayfishes and Shrimp of the Green River, KY)

Orconectes tricuspis

Diagnostic description ¹

Pigmented, eyes normal; rostrum with subparallel margins terminating in small spines, distinctly acuminate, acarinate; cervical spine reduced; areola narrow; mesial margin of uninflated plam with single row of 7-10 low tubercles; male with hook on 3rd pereiopod, lacking caudomesial boss on coxa of 4th; male 1st pleopod terminating in 2 subparallel comparatively short straight elements, mesial process slightly longer and twisted.

Distribution ²

Global Range: (20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)) Restricted to small streams in Cumberland, Ohio, and Green River drainages in Christian, Lyon, Trigg, Todd, Crittendon, and Livingston counties, Kentucky.

Habitat and ecology ³

Habitat and Ecology

This species is common in small to large creeks ranging in width from 2 - 8 m with bottom substrates of bedrock, cobble or large gravel. In larger creeks the species can occur in slower flowing runs with mud and scattered cobble substrates (Taylor & Schuster 2004).

Systems

Freshwater

Iucn red list assessment ⁴

Red List Category

Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2010

Assessor/s

Adams, S., Schuster, G.A. & Taylor, C.A.

Reviewer/s

Collen, B. & Richman, N.

Contributor/s

Livingston, F., Soulsby, A.-M., Batchelor, A., Dyer, E., Whitton, F., Milligan, H.T., Smith, J., Lutz, M.L., De Silva, R., McGuinness, S., Kasthala, G., Jopling, B., Sullivan, K. & Cryer, G.

Justification

Orconectes tricuspis has been assessed as Least Concern (LC). Despite having a relatively small range, this species' distribution is continuous and is likely to be larger than currently known. Furthermore, a large part of the range of this species is covered by aquatic management plans which are likely to be beneficial to this species. There are no known threats to this species.

Nature serve conservation status ⁵

Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

Reasons: Despite having a relatively small range, this species distribution is continuous and is likely to be larger than currently known with some recent range expansion. Furthermore, a large part of the range of this species is covered by aquatic management plans which are likely to be beneficial to this species. There are no known threats to this species.

Intrinsic Vulnerability: Not intrinsically vulnerable

Environmental Specificity: Broad. Generalist or community with all key requirements common.

Range description ⁶

This species is endemic to the state of Kentucky, USA, and is found in the Lower Tennessee, Lower Cumberland and Pond River drainages. In Tristan and Todd County regions, the species occurs in the headwaters of three river drainages; the Little River (Cumberland River drainage), the Pond River (Green River drainage), and Whipperwill Creek (Red andCumberland River drainages) (Taylor and Schuster 2004).

The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of this species has been estimated to exceed 6,200 km².

Sources and Credits

(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28859518
(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28859512
(c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/34615626
(c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/34615623
(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28859505
(c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/34615624

More Info

Range Map

iNat Map

‹ › ×