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Pilose Crayfish - Pacifastacus gambelii
Native Species
Global Rank:
G4G5
State Rank:
SX
(see State Rank Reason below)
Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:
External Links
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Currently, this species is ranked SX or extirpated in the state.
General Description
Pigmented, eyes normal; rostrum with margins converging, at least 3 pr lateral marginal spines, acumen indistinct, median carina present; postorbital ridges lacking posterior spines or tubercles; cervical and hepatic spines absent; areola broad with 7-9 punctations in narrowest part, branchiocardiac groove interrupted so that distinct cephalic and caudal portions of areola evident; chela stout, dorsal surface of palm studded with minute tubercles, two conspicuous longitudinal clusters of setae on dorsal surface of palm; male lacking hooks and bosses on all pereiopods; male 1st pleopod lacking terminal elements, in form of tightly rolled tube, only distalmost 3-5% slightly attenuate; incisor region of mandible blade-like (Hobbs 1972).
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Historical
Range Comments
Confirmed on the Pacific slope in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and reported in the Missouri River drainages of Montana. It has been reported that this crayfish species inhabitated Montana waters of the Upper Missouri River drainages, including the East Gallatin River, but no museum records were ever located. Extensive searches (Gustafson 2004, Stagliano 2015) have not turned up this crayfish species, so if it ever did exist in Montana it is presumed extirpated.
Habitat
This species is found in lentic & lotic habitats and is likely to breed during late-spring. This species is believed to be an opportunistic feeder and has a home range estimated to be no more than 50 meters (Wyoming Game and Fish Department 2000). The pilose crayfish is belived to be intollerable of warmer waters or of the warmer water fish populations (Johnson 1986).
Food Habits
This species is omnivorous and a scavenger, feeds by shredding large pieces of orangic materials and shredding them up.
Management
Probably extirpated from the state if it ever lived here.
Threats or Limiting Factors
Invasive and invading virile crayfish species, Orconectes virilis in the upper Missouri River drainages and water quality problems.
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication
Gustafson, D. Entomologist, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. Personal communication. May 2004.- Hobbs, H.H. 1976. Crayfishes (Astacidae) of North and Middle America. Biological Methods Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio. 173 p.
- Johnson, R.L. 1986. Types and distribution of wetlands in Montana. Pp. 9-10 in Montana wetlands: their distribution, uses, value, and future. Proc., A Symposium and Workshop, lune 24-25, 1986, Bozeman. 205 pp.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Wyoming Game and Fish Department. 2000. Yellowstone cutthroat trout management summary. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Fish Division, Cheyenne.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Pilose Crayfish"
- Additional Sources of Information Related to "Crayfish / Amphipods / Pill Bugs"
