Procambarus leonensis Hobbs 1942

Procambarus (O.) leonensis

56. Procambarus (O.) litostemum: 15–17, 21, 53, 54, 82, 89, 124, 132

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) leonensis Hobbs

Procambarus leonensis Hobbs, 1942b:9, 15, 20, 21, 66, 87, 106, 110–112, 114–118, 123, 152, 155, figs. 121–125; 1943a:49–53, 55, figs. 1, 6, 7, 10, 12–14, 16, 17, 22, 26, 29, 31; 1945b:254; 1959:889; 1962:285, fig. 29; 1966b:70; 1968b:K–9, fig. 25n.—Hoff, 1944:340, 356.—Hart, 1959:203, 204.—Hobbs and Hart, 1959:149, 154, 158–160, 163, 164, 167, 168, 171, 174, 176, 178, 185, fig. 12.—Caine, 1974b:3, 5, 7, 9–10, 14–15, 17, 19, 20, 22–26, 29, 30, 32–34, 36–39, 43, 45, 47–54, 56, 60, 69, figs. 1c, 4c, 5a.—Hart and Hart, 1974:27, 88, 128.—Franz, 1977a:93.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) leonensis.—Hobbs, 1972a:9; 1972b:63, 64, 151, 154, fig. 50a; 1974b:57, fig. 236.

The above is believed to constitute a complete bibliography for the species. Inasmuch as representatives have not been found in Georgia, none of the citations include references to the state.

SUMMARY OF LITERATURE.—Due to the delay in publication of the full description of this crayfish (Hobbs, 1943a), the brief diagnosis of the species in his compilation of the crayfishes of Florida (Hobbs, 1942b:114) must be considered to constitute the original description, despite the fact that the account in the later publication is so designated therein.

Virtually all that is known about the species is included in Hobbs (1942b), Hobbs and Hart (1959), and Caine (1974b). The latter, in addition to discussing its habitat in Florida, presents comparative data concerning adaptations involving the following: temperature and stream velocity tolerances, oxygen levels and metabolism, substrate preferences, burrowing, and behavior. Entocytherid ostracods harbored by it are cited by Hoff (1944), Hart (1959), Hobbs (1966b), and by Hart and Hart (1974). Franz (1977a) suggested that it might serve as prey for the snake Regina alleni. Its assignment to the subgenus Ortmannicus was proposed by Hobbs (1972a), and its range was defined and illustrations were presented in Hobbs (1972b and 1974b).

DIAGNOSIS.—Rostrum with marginal spines or tubercles, or at least angulate at base of acumen; median carina lacking. Carapace with 1 pair of cervical spines or tubercles. Areola 4.7 to 8.8 (average 6.3) times as long as broad and constituting 29.1 to 34.0 (average 30.8) percent of entire length of carapace (38.6 to 43.8, average 40.9 percent of postorbital carapace length). Antennal peduncle with spine or prominent tubercle on ischium. Lateral half of ventral surface of ischium of third maxilliped sometimes with moderately conspicuous tufts of plumose setae but never with dense mat obscuring entire surface. Basis of cheliped without mesial spine. Mesial surface of palm of chela of male with mesialmost row of 8 to 11 (usually 8 or 9) tubercles. Male with simple hood on ischium of third pereiopod, in first form male overreaching basioischial articulation, and that on fourth often bituberculate and opposed by obliquely set tumescent ventrodistal end of corresponding basis. First pleopods asymmetrical and reaching coxae of third pereiopods, distal part of shaft inclined caudally but cephalic surface lacking distinct hump; subapical setae obscuring cephalic process and central projection; mesial process subspiculiform and directed caudodistally and rather strongly laterally, not overreaching other terminal elements distally; cephalic process acute, situated cephalic to central projection and extending caudodistally subparallel to latter; caudal element represented by vestigial caudal process at caudal base of central projection; latter small, corneous, flattened, arising from central part of distal end of shaft, directed caudodistally but never reaching so far distally as cephalic process. Female with sternum cephalic to annulus ventralis lacking tubercles or caudally protruding prominences; annulus ventralis subcampanulate in outline and bearing broad, triangular median depression, flanked by caudally diverging ridges, frequently with caudomedian concavity; sinus in form of simple arc situated in median part of depression, not reaching cephalic or concave caudal margin of annulus; postannular sclerite about two-thirds as wide as annulus and arched ventrally; first pleopod present.

COLOR NOTES (based on specimen from Leon County, Florida; Figure 136g).—Carapace reddish brown dorsally; margins of rostrum, postorbital ridges, and arc covering and flanking cephalomedian part of cervical groove almost black. Orbital and mandibular regions with pale pinkish cream oblique stripe; reddish hepatic area with several small cream spots and streaks. Branchiostegites dark brown dorsally, fading to grayish tan ventrally, marked with many small irregular cream spots, and with 3 pairs of larger dorsolateral black spots: anterior pair abutting cervical groove, another lying almost against dorsal part of caudal flange, and third situated immediately mesial to latter pair, contiguous to reddish brown caudal ridge. Abdominal terga purplish brown, first through fifth with paired, narrow, almost linear dorsolateral spots anteriorly, flanked laterally by oval to subcircular paler spot, and caudal margins dark purplish red. Sixth with complex pattern of black lines. Pleura also purplish red, and second through sixth indistinctly set off from terga by black spot anteriorly, bleeding caudally; second pleuron with central pink spot, succeeding ones pale cephalically and caudally, with small pink spot at midlength near ventral margin. Cephalic section of telson with dark brown median and paired lateral stripes, otherwise purplish red; uropods also mostly purplish red, but basal segment very dark, with proximal pinkish cream spot, dark coloration also on lateral margin of mesial ramus and median ridges of both rami. Eyestalks and antennular and antennal peduncles straw colored, mottled with dark brown splotches, flagella of latter two olive tan; antennal scale pinkish tan, with reddish brown (almost black) lateral margin and only slightly paler longitudinal stripe along mesial side of rib, stripe fading onto lateral part of lamella. Third maxilliped reddish tan. Dorsal surface of cheliped tan to brown and mottled with irregular black splotches from basis to proximal part of fingers; latter very dark brown, with pale pinkish to yellowish tips; large tubercles on dorsodistal part of merus cream tipped, otherwise all tubercles on cheliped black. Remaining pereiopods dark olive gray dorsally from ischium through dactyl; merus and carpus slightly darker distally. Sternal area orange to pinkish cream.

TYPES.—Holotype, allotype, and “morphotype,” USNM 81091 (I, , II); paratypes, MCZ, USNM, ANSP.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Sinkhole pond, 3 miles southwest of Tallahassee on State Route 20, Leon County, Florida (now beneath runway at airport).

RANGE.—Between the Apalachicola and Suwannee rivers in Florida.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—This crayfish has not been collected in Georgia; however, it has been found so close to the Georgia line in Gadsden and Leon counties, Florida, that I do not doubt that it occurs in either the Aucilla or Ochlockonee river basin in the southwestern part of the state.

SIZE.—The largest specimen that I have measured is the holotypic first form male, which has a carapace length of 46.5 (postorbital carapace length 35.4) mm. Corresponding lengths of the smallest first form male are 27.2 (19.5) mm, and those of the smallest ovigerous female, 29.5 (22.5) mm.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) leonensis Hobbs

Procambarus leonensis Hobbs, 1942b: 114, figs. 121–125; 1943a:49, figs. 1, 6, 7, 10, 12–14, 16, 17, 22, 26, 29, 31.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) leonensis.—Hobbs, 1972a:9.

TYPES.—Holotype, allotype, and “morphotype,” USNM 81091 (I, , II); paratypes, MCZ, USNM, ANSP.

TYPES-LOCALITY.—Sinkhole pond, 3 miles southwest of Tallahassee on State Route 20, Leon County, Florida. (Now beneath runway at airport.)

RANGE.—Between the Apalachicola and Suwannee rivers, Florida.

HABITAT.—Lentic and lotic situations, and burrows.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) leonensis Hobbs

Procambarus leonensis Hobbs, 1942b:114, figs. 121–125; 1943a:49, figs. 1, 6, 7, 10, 12–14, 16, 17, 22, 26, 29, 31.—Caine, 1974:9, figs, 1c, 4c, 5a.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) leonensis.—Hobbs, 1972a:9; 1974b:57, fig. 236.

TYPES.—Holotype, allotype, and “morphotype,” USNM 81091 (male I, female, male II); paratypes, MCZ, USNM, ANSP.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Sinkhole pond, 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Tallahassee on State Route 20, Leon County, Florida (now beneath runway at airport).

RANGE.—Between the Apalachicola and Suwannee rivers, Florida.

HABITAT.—Lentic and lotic situations, and burrows.