Procambarus zonangulus

Invasion History

First Non-native North American Tidal Record: 2006
First Non-native West Coast Tidal Record:
First Non-native East/Gulf Coast Tidal Record: 2006

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General Invasion History:

Procambarus zonangulus is a Gulf coastal plain species, native to eastern Texas and the Mississippi River, Louisiana (Deng et al. 1991) to possibly Alabama (Taylor 1996). It is part of the species complex formerly known as P. acutus acutus, which includes at least three species of crayfishes in the eastern United States (Hobbs and Hobbs 1990; Huner and Barr 1991; Taylor et al. 1996). On the Atlantic seaboard, the 'true' P. acutus acutus (synonyms P. acutus blandingi, P. blandingi) ranges from Florida to New Jersey, and is native in the Chesapeake Bay region (Meredith and Schwartz 1960; Hobbs 1989; Taylor et al. 1996). The systematics and distribution of the P. acutus complex is not completely resolved (Hobbs and Hobbs 1990; Deng et al. 1993).

P. zonangulus co-occurs with P. clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish, Crawdad) in Gulf coast rivers and bayous, and in crayfish aquaculture ponds. Usually P. clarkii dominates the harvest, but P. zonangulus forms a substantial proportion, and is the second most economically important crayfish in the United States (Huner and Barr 1991). Procambarus clarkii has been widely introduced around the United States and the world (Hobbs et al. 1989). Since P. zonangulus and P. clarkii are frequently reared together, it is likely that P. zonangulus has also been widely introduced. The extent of P. zonangulus' range is not clear, because this species is frequently lumped with P. clarkii (Huner and Barr 1991). On the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, P. zonangulus would be difficult to separate from P. acutus acutus (Hobbs and Hobbs 1990). Hobbs (1982) compared a Georgia fish hatchery population of 'P. acutus acutus' introduced from Louisiana (probably P. zonangulus) with presumed native Georgia P. acutus acutus and noted numerous small morphological differences. Some of the introduced populations of 'P. acutus acutus' known from New York, Connecticut, and Maine (Hobbs et al. 1989; Taylor et al. 1996) could be P. zonangulus.

North American Invasion History:

Invasion History on the East Coast:

'Crawdads' imported from Louisiana have been raised on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland (MD) and Virginia (VA) since 1980 (Associated Press 1986). These stocks consist of a mixture of P. clarkii and 'White River Crayfish' (Harrell 1987), most likely P. zonangulus. Recent surveys (Maryland Biological Stream Survey, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1996-2007) of crayfishes in MD have found P. zonangulus in three aquaculture ponds on the Eastern Shore, one in the Nanticoke River drainage and two in aquaculture ponds in the Pocomoke River drainage. However, it is possible that many crayfishes identified as P. acutus in the earlier years of the surveys (1989-1995) were actually P. zonangulus (Kilian et al. 2010). Further surveys, including examination of previously collected specimens from 1995 to 2012, found that P. zonangulus was widespread in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with more than 700 records, ranging from nontidal Susquehanna and upper Bay tributaries to the middle and lower Potomac and the Eastern Shore. Collections in tidal waters include specimens from lower Potomac tributaries in Charles County, Mattawoman Creek, Nanjemoy Creek Zekiah Swamp Branch, and on the Eastern Shore in Dorchester County, Little Blackwater River (2006-20012, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2017). The widespread occurrences suggest that bait releases as well as aquaculture and food-releases have contributed to the spread of this crayfish.

Invasion History Elsewhere in the World:

While Procambarus clarkii has been widely introduced around the world, P. zonangulus has, so far, only been reported from the Nile River, Egypt (Ibrahim et al. 1997, cited by Holdich et al. 2010). It is likely that it will be found in other locations where crayfish are cultured, or have been released as food.

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Description

Procambarus zonangulus has an ovoid carapace and chelae (claws) covered with tubercles and granules. It has a prominent rostrum, which is strongly triangular with a median keel and a pointed tip. The two halves of the carapace are separated by a gap, whereas they join in P. clarkii. The chelae are somewhat narrow, cylindrical, and elongated, with a large gap at the base of the movable finger. The carpus or wrist joint bears three spines, one very large, on its interior edge. In the males, the 3rd segment (ischia) of the 3rd pair of walking legs bears copulatory hooks. The annulus ventralis (seminal receptacle) of the female is an ovoid structure located between the 4th and 5th pair of walking legs, with a sigmoid (a groove running across the center), and two groups of tubercles at the anterior border. Young Southern White River Crayfish are sandy-white, with black spots on the head, body, and tail. The adults are light brown, with a wide black stripe on the dorsal surface of the tail (Huner and Barr 1991). These crayfish mature at ~30 mm carapace length (~60 mm total length) and frequently reach 50 mm (100 mm, total length, Deng et al. 1993). The largest reported specimen was 178 mm total length (Huner and Barr 1991).

Procambarus zonangulus is a member of the Procambarus acutus species complex, consisting of several similar species in the Mississippi-Gulf Basin and Atlantic drainages, whose systematics are still unresolved (Hobbs and Hobbs 1990; Kilian et al. 2010; Huner and Parr 1991). Separation of P. zonangulus from East Coast native P. acutus acutus requires microscopic examination of 1st form male gonopods, and the interspecific differences are subtle.

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Taxonomy

Ecology

General:

Life History: Procambarus zonangulus frequently co-occurs with P. clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish), and is often lumped with it in ecological and aquaculture studies (Niquette and Dabrano 1991; Huner and Barr 1991). They are considered a 'tertiary burrowing' crayfish (primary burrowers burrow year-round, secondary burrowers leave the burrow during rainy periods, and tertiary burrowers inhabit the burrow during the breeding season and during droughts, but are found in open water the rest of the year). Freshwater crayfishes, of the family Cambaridae, mate by internal fertilization, with the male inserting pleopods into the females seminal (annulus ventralis) between the 4th and 5th walking legs. The female curls her abdomen far forward to create a chamber in which the eggs are driven by the pleopods. The mass of eggs becomes attached under the tail. Larval development takes place inside the egg and the young hatch as miniature adults (Barnes 1983).

Male cambarid crayfish show sharp morphological changes with season. At the start of the breeding season, they molt into a sexually competent stage (Form I), marked by lengthening and stiffening of the modified 1st pleopods, more pronounced ischial spines (in the basal segments of the 3rd walking leg) and enlarged chelipeds. After breeding, the crayfish molts back into Form II, with the 1st pleopods less differentiated and soft ischial spines reduced, and less robust chelipeds (Hobbs 1989).

Ecology: Procambarus zoangulus constructs burrows near the water's edge which are usually under 0.5 m in length, but may extend to 4.5 m depending on soil and moisture conditions. Burrows are often partly filled with water, but crayfish are frequently out of the water because of low oxygen concentrations (Correia and Ferreira 1995; Huner and Barr 1984). Overland movements may occur in response to heavy rains, flooding, or anoxia in burrow water (Huner 1989). In the early part of its life, it is found in deeper water (up to two or three feet) in marsh lagoons. As it attains maturity, and the spawning season approaches, it migrates to the shallow water of open marshes (usually less than six inches deep). Culture ponds are usually 0.3-0.7 m deep (Huner and Barr 1991). Procambarus zonangulus, like P. clarkii, tolerates salinities of 20-30 PSU (Huner and Barr 1991; Newsom and Davis 1994). Both Procambarus spp. are omnivorous, but in Texas sloughs, female P. zonangulus consumed more animal food than P. clarkii (Deng et al. 1993). The presence of Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus) likely restricts the occurrence of Southern White River Crayfish in East coast estuaries (Huner and Barr 1991).

Food:

detritus; carrion; vascular plants; invertebrates

Consumers:

Fish, birds, mammals, crabs

Competitors:

Other crayfish species

Trophic Status:

Omnivore

Omni

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Habitats

General Habitat	Fresh (nontidal) Marsh	None
General Habitat	Grass Bed	None
General Habitat	Coarse Woody Debris	None
General Habitat	Nontidal Freshwater	None
General Habitat	Tidal Fresh Marsh	None
General Habitat	Salt-brackish marsh	None
General Habitat	Unstructured Bottom	None
General Habitat	Rocky	None
General Habitat	Oyster Reef	None
Salinity Range	Limnetic	0-0.5 PSU
Salinity Range	Mesohaline	5-18 PSU
Vertical Habitat	Endobenthic	None
Vertical Habitat	Epibenthic	None

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Tolerances and Life History Parameters

Minimum Temperature (ºC)	0	Prcambarus 'can live just about anywhere so long as the water in their burrows does not freeze' (Huner and Barr 1991).
Maximum Temperature (ºC)	35	Huner and Barr 1991
Minimum Salinity (‰)	0	This is a freshwater species,
Maximum Salinity (‰)	20	Huner and Barr 1991; Newsom and Davis 1994
Minimum pH	5.8	Huner and Barr 1991
Maximum pH	10	Huner and Barr 1991
Minimum Reproductive Temperature	15	Huner and Barr 1991
Maximum Reproductive Temperature	28	Huner and Barr 1991
Minimum Reproductive Salinity	0	Huner and Barr 1991
Maximum Reproductive Salinity	12	Huner and Barr 1991
Minimum Length (mm)	60	Total length at 1st reproduction (Deng et al. 1993)
Maximum Length (mm)	178	Huner and Barr 1991
Broad Temperature Range	None	Warm-temperate
Broad Salinity Range	None	Limnetic-Mesohaline

General Impacts

No ecological impacts have been reported for Procambarus zonangulus. However, its introduced population has only been surveyed in Maryland (Kilian et al. 2010; USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2017). Potential impacts are probably similar to those of P. clarkii, including burrowing, destruction of aquatic vegetation, and competition with native crayfishes.

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References

Associated Press November 24, 1986 Farmers raising crawfish: Maryland goes Cajun. <missing URL>



Blank, Grant S.; Figler, Michael H. (1996) Interspecific shelter competition between the sympatric crayfish species Procambarus clarkii (Girard) and Procambarus zonangulus (Hobbs and Hobbs), Journal of Crustacean Biology 16(2): 300-309

Deng, Xuehuai; Bechler, David L.; Lee, Kwan R. (1993) Comparative life history studies of two sympatric Procambarus crawfish, Journal of Shellfish Research 12(2): 343-350

Harrell, Reginal M. (1987) <missing title>, University of Maryland Sea Grant, College Park. Pp. <missing location>

Hobbs, Horton H., Jr.; Hobbs, H. H., III (1990) New crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from southeastern Texas, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 103(3): 608-613

Huner, J. V.; Barr, J. E. (1991) <missing title>, Louisiana Sea Grant Program, Sea Grant College, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Pp. <missing location>

Kilian, Jay V. and 6 authors (2010) The status and distribution of Maryland crayfishes, Southeastern Naturalist 9(Special Issue 3): 11-32

Newsom, James E.; Davis, Kenneth B. (1994) Osmotic response of haemolymph in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crayfish (P. zonangulus) to changes in temperature and salinity, Aquaculture 126: 373-381

Niquette, Daniel J., D'Abramo, Louis R. (1991) Population dynamics of red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) and white river crawfish, P. acutus acutus (Girard, 1852), cultured in earthen ponds, Journal of Shellfish Research 10(1): 179-186

Taylor, Christopher A.; Warren, Melvin L.; Fitzpatrick, J. F., Jr., Hobbs, Horton H.., Jezerinac, Raymond F., Pflieger, William L., Robison, Henry W. (1996) Conservation status of crayfishes of the United States and Canada, Fisheries 21(4): 25-37

Turner, Ruth D.; Boss, Kenneth (1962) The genus Lithophaga in the Western Atlanitc, Johnsonia 4(41): 81-116

USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2003-2024 Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/

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