Procambarus tenuis Hobbs, 1950

Morehouse, Reid L. & Tobler, Michael, 2013, Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 101-157 : 139-140

Procambarus tenuis Hobbs, 1950 : Ouachita Mountain Crayfish

General charateristics. Adults rarely exceed 125 mm in total length. The carapace is strongly compressed, and the areola is very narrow and nearly closed. The boss on the coxae of the fourth pereiopod is greatly expanded ventrally. The rostrum does not have lateral spines. Chelae are stout and oval in shape, and palms have a row of 7 to 9 tubercles lining their mesial surface. In form I males, gonopods terminate in three processes and the central projection is corneous and the most prominent of the processes, while the mesial process is thin, triangular, and directed caudally at nearly a 90° angle with the axis of shaft (Hobbs, 1948).

Life coloration. The background color is usually light tan to reddish brown with dark dots over the whole body ( Figure 87 ). Ventral side is pale yellow to whitish.

Similar species. In the native range of P. tenuis , there are no other Procambarus species that could be confused with P. tenuis .

Distribution and habitat. Procambarus tenuis occurs in the Arkansas, Ouachita, and Red River basins of western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, P. tenuis has been found in three counties (LeFlore, Pushmataha, Pittsburg). Our ecological niche model indicates that suitable environmental conditions may be available in Haskell, Latimer, Atoka, and McCurtain counties ( Figure 88 ). Procambarus tenuis has been found burrowing adjacent to and within clear cool springs and streams, and found under rocks in permanent flowing streams exhibiting qualities of both a secondary and tertiary burrower (Hobbs, 1989; Jones & Bergey, 2007).

Life history. Procambarus tenuis is rare within its native range. We have collected form II males, females, and juveniles in March and April. Form II males and females have also been collected year round (J. Dyer, personal communication).

Syntopic species. Orconectes leptogonopodus , Orconectes menae , Orconectes palmeri longimanus , and Orconectes saxatilis .

Conservation status. AFS: Vulnerable; Heritage Rank: Imperiled (G3); IUCN: Data Deficient; ODWC: Tier 1.

Additional resources. Jones & Bergey (2007).

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.