Procambarus simulans (Faxon, 1884)

Morehouse, Reid L. & Tobler, Michael, 2013, Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 101-157 : 139

Procambarus simulans (Faxon, 1884) : Southern Plains Crayfish

General charateristics. Adults rarely exceed 100 mm in total length. The carapace is ovate and narrows towards the rostrum, is granulate laterally, and the areola is open. The rostrum is broad and deeply excavated with strong margins and no lateral spines. Chelae are long and slender. The surface of the chelae is dentate, with tubercles lining the mesial margins of palm and dactyl. In form I males, gonopods are thick and straight with four short processes. Central projection is straight, and caudal process is narrow. In females, the annulus ventralis has two tubercles on the anterior end (Faxon, 1884).

Life coloration. The background color is olive-green to light bluish gray ( Figure 85 ). Occasionally, highlights of red are present on the tail, cervical groove, and on chelae. Chelae are usually lighter gray or with a blue tint. Two rows of darker blotches are running longitudinally on the dorsal side of abdomen. The ventral side is cream colored.

Similar species. In Oklahoma, P. simulans closely resembles P. curdi (see P. curdi for differences).

Distribution and habitat. Procambarus simulans has a broad distribution and occurs in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana (Hobbs 1989). In Oklahoma, this species is found statewide in a variety of habitats. The species can be found anywhere from roadside ditches, wetlands and swamps, to ponds and streams. Procambarus simulans is a secondary burrower and will burrow into the ground to follow receding water levels. Our ecological niche model confirms the wide distribution of P. simulans as the entire state – except for the western half of the panhandle – provides suitable environmental conditions ( Figure 86 ).

Life history. Form I and II males and females have been collected year round in Oklahoma. Females with young were collected in February from a shallow wetland area in north central Oklahoma. The number of young attached to the females ranged from 89 to 156. We have not collected any ovigerous females. As females were collected with young in February, this suggests that the majority of breeding takes place in the fall and winter months.

Syntopic species. Cambarus diogenes , Procambarus acutus , and Procambarus curdi .

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

Additional resources. Williams (1954); Williams & Leonard (1952); Young (1971).

Figures

FIGURES 85 – 89. 85. Procambarus simulans 86. Potential distribution of Procambarus simulans 87. Procambarus tenuis 88. Potential distribution of Procambarus tenuis 89. Biodiversity hotspots within the study region. Map was obtained by combining all species' distribution maps using the raster calculator within ArcGIS. The calculator adds up each value within each pixel to generate a diversity map, where lighter colors represent areas where more species are predicted based on environmental variables.