Cambarus tartarus Hobbs and Cooper, 1972

Morehouse, Reid L. & Tobler, Michael, 2013, Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 101-157 : 124

Cambarus tartarus Hobbs and Cooper, 1972 : Oklahoma Cave Crayfish

General charateristics. A white (albinistic) crayfish with small, unpigmented eyes, and long slender chelae. Adults rarely exceed 50 mm in total length. The carapace is lacking cervical spines and is subcylindrical. The rostrum is the broadest at the base and has small marginal spines. The body and pereiopods are covered in conspicuous stiff setae. In form I males, gonopods terminate in two terminal processes, both recurved at angles greater than 90°. The central projection is short, heavy, and does not taper. In females, the annulus ventralis is symmetrical with the caudal portion somewhat movable (Hobbs & Cooper, 1972).

Life coloration. Off-white to pinkish-white, especially in the abdominal region ( Figure 37 ). Newly molted individuals are nearly all white. Smaller individuals appear somewhat translucent.

Similar species. Cambarus tartarus closely resembles the only other cave crayfish in Oklahoma, which is C. subterraneus (see C. subterraneus section for differences).

Distribution and habitat. Cambarus tartarus is a tertiary burrower and is currently known from two caves (January-Stansbury and Long's) in Delaware County, Oklahoma ( Figure 38 ). Both of these caves are situated along Spavinaw Creek. These caves are formed in limestone, and the bottom is covered with fine silt.

Life history. Populations have been monitored periodically by the United States Fish and Wildlife to ensure a viable population still exists and form I and II males and females have been documented from both caves (Fenolio et al., 2006).

Syntopic species. Orconectes neglectus neglectus has been documented in January-Stansbury cave especially during the winter months. However, it appears that O. neglectus neglectus is restricted to the front part of the cave, where the substrate predominantly consists of gravel, while C. tartarus occurs in deeper parts of the cave over silt covered ground.

Conservation status. AFS: Endangered; Heritage Rank: Critically Imperiled (G1); IUCN: Critically Endangered; ODWC: Tier 1.

Additional resources. Hobbs et al. (2006); Jones & Bergey (2005); Taylor et al. (2004).

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 44. 37. Cambarus tartarus 38. Potential distribution of Cambarus tartarus (distribution map was not made for this species due to it subterranean lifestyle; climatic variables outside the cave systems do not accurately represent the climate within the cave) 39. Fallicambarus fodiens 40. Potential distribution of Fallicambarus fodiens 41. Faxonella blairi 42. Potential distribution of Faxonella blairi 43. Faxonella clypeata 44. Potential distribution of Faxonella clypeata.