MoWIN: Elk River Basin

Crayfish find shelter under rocks and logs in streams where they burrow into gravel. Crayfish are crustaceans. The outer part of their body is known as an exoskeleton. Sometimes industrial pollutants can hinder their ability to produce their armor-like exoskeleton. They have pinchers on the end of their arms. Pictures of crayfish and more information can be found on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s crayfish website http://www.conservation.mo.gov/nathis/arthopo/crayfish/varcraw.htm#anchor1219237.

There are six species of crayfish in the Elk River Basin. See the table below for a list of crayfish species found in the Elk River Basin.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Collection
Bristly cave crayfish	Cambarus setosus	between 1971-1992
Neosho SimSun; midget crayfish	Orconectes macrus	between 1971-1992
Ringed crayfish	Orconectes neglectus	between 1971-1992
Northern crayfish	Orconectes virilis	between 1971-1992
Grassland crayfish	Procambaris gracilis	No (range includes Elk River basin )
Cave crayfish	Cambarus aculabrum (found in cave in NW Arkansas)	No (origin of locality stream may be in McDonald County , MO)

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation, available at http://www.conservation.mo.gov/fish/watershed/elk/biotic/010bct15.htm.

Neosho Midget Crayfish

Source: http://www.conservation.mo.gov/nathis/arthopo/crayfish/varcraw.htm#anchor1231058