Range extensions of three crayfishes (Faxonius yanahlindus, F. placidus, and F. erichsonianus) into Mississippi

Abstract

We report 3 new state crayfish records from the Tennessee River drainage in Tishomingo County, Mississippi: 1 is a re-identification of previously published material, and 2 are from unpublished collections. Faxonius yanahlindus (Spinywrist Crayfish), recently described from the middle Tennessee River drainage in northwest Alabama and southern Tennessee, is closely related to F. spinosus (Coosa River Spiny Crayfish) and F. putnami (Phallic Crayfish). In light of the new species description, we re-examined crayfish collected in southern tributaries of the Tennessee River in northeast Mississippi that were previously identified as F. spinosus or F. putnami. We reassigned the specimens to F. yanahlindus, extending the species’ range into northeast Mississippi. We also report new state records of 2 other crayfishes. Faxonius placidus (Bigclaw Crayfish) was collected from Whetstone Branch, a tributary of Pickwick Reservoir on the Tennessee River, and F. erichsonianus (Reticulate Crayfish) was collected from Cedar Creek, a tributary of Bear Creek in the Tennessee River basin.

Citation

Adams, Susan B.; Jones, Robert L. 2018. Range extensions of three crayfishes (Faxonius yanahlindus, F. placidus, and F. erichsonianus) into Mississippi. Southeastern Naturalist 17:1 4p.