Orconectes deanae Reimer and Jester, 1975

Morehouse, Reid L. & Tobler, Michael, 2013, Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 101-157 : 127-128

Orconectes deanae Reimer and Jester, 1975 : Conchas Crayfish

General charateristics. Adults rarely exceed 85 mm in total length. The rostrum has distinct spines, a slight central depression, and the areola is closed. Chelae are long and slender, and the dactyl is nearly twice as long as the palm. In form I males, gonopods terminate in two strongly curved processes. The central projection is bent at a 45° angle to the shaft, and the mesial process bent at a 90° angle to shaft. In females, the annulus ventralis is subelliptical and is wider than long (Reimer & Jester, 1975).

Life coloration. The background color is light brown to dark brown ( Figure 47 ). The abdomen is slightly darker than the carapace. Dark speckling on dorsal side of chelae is present. Ventral side is off-white.

Similar species. In Oklahoma, O. deanae closely resembles O. palmeri longimanus . It differs from O. palmeri longimanus in the curvature of the gonopods of form I males. In O. deanae , the mesial processes are curved at approximately a 90° angle to the shaft, while it is never curved to that extent in O. palmeri longimanus . Furthermore, the central projection of gonopods in O. deanae represents no more than 1/5 of the total appendage length, while it represents at least 1/4 of the total length in O. palmeri longimanus (Figure in couplet 22).

Distribution and habitat. Orconectes deanae was originally described from Conchas Reservoir in New Mexico. Conchas Reservoir is an impoundment in the northern reaches of the Canadian River. In Oklahoma, O. deanae is known form the North Canadian River drainage and the Arkansas River near its confluence with the North Canadian River. Our ecological niche model also indicated that the western portion of the Red River drainage provides suitable environmental conditions ( Figure 48 ). Orconectes deanae is mostly found in lentic habitats along the North Canadian River. It occupies debris piles in turbid, muddy waters.

Life history. Details about the life history of O. deanae remain unclear. Most specimens have been collected from man-made ponds and reservoirs and is a tertiary burrower. Form I males and females have been collected in January and juveniles in July (Reimer & Jester, 1975). We have collected females and form II males in October.

Syntopic species. Orconectes causeyi , Orconectes nais .

Conservation status. AFS: Currently Stable; Heritage Rank: Apparently Secure (G4); IUCN: Least Concern; ODWC: Not Listed.

Additional resources. Johnson (2010).

Figures

FIGURES 45 – 52. 45. Orconectes causeyi 46. Potential distribution of Orconectes causeyi 47. Orconectes deanae 48. Potential distribution of Orconectes deanae 49. Orconectes difficilis 50. Potential distribution of Orconectes difficilis 51. Orconectes lancifer 52. Potential distribution of Orconectes lancifer.