Procambarus medialis Hobbs 1975

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) medialis

Procambarus pearsei pearsei.—Hobbs and Walton, 1958: 7, 8, 11 [in part; records from Pitt and Johnston (not Johnson, lapsus calami) counties]. —Hobbs, 1968:K–10 [in part]; 1972b:59 [in part].

DIAGNOSIS.—Body and eyes pigmented. Rostrum without marginal spines. Areola constituting 32.0 to 34.7 percent of entire length of carapace (40.9 to 44.1 percent of postorbital carapace length) and 4.5 to 7.9 times longer than wide. Cervical spine small, reduced to tubercle, or obsolete. Post-orbital ridge terminating cephalically without spine. Antennal scale slightly more than twice as long as broad, widest approximately at midlength. Ischia of third and fourth pereiopods of male with simple hooks, that of third overlapping basioischial articulation, that of fourth opposed by tubercle on basis. First pleopods asymmetrical (however, proximomesial apophyses not overlapping), lacking shoulder on cephalic surface, and reaching coxa of third pereiopod when abdomen flexed; distal extremity bearing comparatively slender mesial process with distal fourth bent mesially at right angle to main shaft of appendage; cephalic process somewhat hooding central projection and both bent caudolaterally at right angle; caudal process flared and directed caudolaterally and somewhat distally; all four processes partially corneous. Annulus ventralis freely movable with tilted submedian S-shaped sinus; sternum cephalic to annulus without tubercles or prominences.

HOLOTYPIC MALE, FORM I.—Cephalothorax (Figure 3a,i) subovate, compressed laterally. Abdomen narrower than thorax (11.8 and 13.7 mm). Greatest width of carapace slightly less than height at caudodorsal margin of cervical groove (13.7 and 14.3 mm). Areola 6.5 times longer than wide with 3 punctations across narrowest part, and constituting 33.4 percent of entire length of carapace (42.6 percent of postorbital carapace length). Rostrum subplane dorsally with scattered setiferous punctations and unthickened, elevated, convergent margins lacking marginal spines or tubercles; apex reaching base of ultimate podomere of antennular peduncle. Subrostral ridges rather weak and evident in dorsal aspect only in caudal orbital area. Postorbital ridges prominent, strongly elevated, shallowly grooved dorsolaterally, and blunt cephalically. Suborbital angle obtuse. Branchiostegal spine moderately well developed, apex rounded. Surface of carapace with punctations largely limited to dorsal surface—on rostrum, between postorbital ridges, and in areola—otherwise mostly tuberculate with 2 somewhat larger than surrounding ones representing cervical spines.

Cephalic lobe of epistome (Figure 3h) subcordiform with elevated, only slightly thickened margins; main body of epistome with longitudinal cephalomedian depression. Antennules with well-developed spine at midlength near ventromesial margin of basal article. Antennae extending caudally to midlength of telson. Antennal scale (Figure 3g) 2.1 times longer than wide, greatest width at about midlength with lamellar area about twice as broad as lateral thickened part; latter terminating in short spine reaching midlength of ultimate podomere of antennular peduncle.

Third maxilliped extending cephalically to midlength of penultimate podomere of antennular peduncle; entire ventral surface of ischium matted with conspicuous plumose setae, distolateral extremity angular; exopod reaching distal end of merus.

Abdomen slightly longer than carapace (30.7 and 29.0 mm). Cephalic section of telson with 2 spines in each caudolateral corner. Basal segment of uropod with spine on each lobe. Pleura broad, truncate ventrally, and rounded caudoventrally.

Right chela (Figure 3m) elongate, 3.2 times longer than wide, subovate in cross section, depressed. Mesial surface of palm with several irregular rows of 9 or 10 tubercles. Entire surface of palm and basal portions of fingers with squamous to subsquamous tubercles, ventral surface with 1 somewhat larger than others situated opposite base of dactyl. Both fingers with submedian longitudinal ridges dorsally and ventrally; dorsal ridges flanked proximally by tubercles and by setiferous punctations along distal two-thirds. Opposable margin of fixed finger with row of 8 rounded tubercles (fourth from base largest) along proximal half of finger, 1 large one at base of distal two-fifths, and broad band of minute denticles extending from proximal tubercle to base of corneous tip of finger; lateral surface of finger with row of setiferous punctations. Opposable margin of dactyl with dorsal row of 9 tubercles (third from base largest) along proximal half of finger; 3 tubercles (first largest) forming ventral row along second fifth of finger, and broad band of minute denticles extending between rows of tubercles and distally to base of corneous tip of finger; mesial surface of finger with tubercles along proximal half and row of setiferous punctations along distal half.

Carpus of right cheliped longer than broad (8.9 and 5.3 mm); dorsal surface with shallow oblique furrow flanked proximally by squamous tubercles and laterally by setiferous punctations; mesial surface tuberculate with 3 tubercles, somewhat larger than others, forming oblique row distally, distalmost largest; ventral surface with subacute tubercle on distal ventrolateral condyle and another at distal ventromesial angle. Merus tuberculate dorsally, mesially, and ventrally, and punctate laterally; one subdistal tubercle on dorsal surface larger than others; ventral surface with ventrolateral and ventromesial rows of 16 tubercles each, rows flanked by other, mostly smaller, tubercles. Ischium with ventromesial row of 7 tubercles (left with 6).

Hooks on ischia of third and fourth pereiopods (Figure 3j). Hooks simple, that on third overreaching basioischial articulation, that on fourth shorter but opposed by tubercle on basis. Coxa of fourth pereiopod with strong, vertically disposed, somewhat bulbous caudomesial boss; coxa of fifth pereiopod with smaller tuberculiform boss.

Sternum between second, third, and fourth pereiopods only moderately deep, bearing fringe of plumose setae ventrolaterally, latter not obscuring first pleopods when in resting position.

First pleopods (Figure 3b,f,k,l) as described in “Diagnosis.” Subterminal setae arranged in arc across lateral base of cephalic process and largely obscuring latter in lateral aspect. Uropod with both lobes of basal podomere bearing spines; distomedian spine on mesial ramus distinctly premarginal.

ALLOTYPIC FEMALE.—Differing from holotype in following respects: width and height of carapace subequal (11.9 and 11.6 mm); areola only 4.5 times longer than broad, with 4 punctations across narrowest part, and constituting 32.3 percent of total length of carapace (41.1 percent of postorbital carapace length); rostrum not quite reaching base of ultimate podomere of antennular peduncle; branchiostegal spine acute; antennal scale reaching almost to distal end of ultimate podomere of antennular peduncle; ventral surface of ischium of third maxilliped not nearly so densely covered with plumose setae; proportions of elements of chela markedly different (see “Measurements”), opposable margin of fixed finger with one tubercle near base, another on lower level at base of distal third, and single row of minute denticles extending along almost entire length of finger; opposable margin of dactyl with row of 8 tubercles (third from base largest) along proximal half of finger and single row of minute denticles extending from largest tubercle to base of corneous tip of podomere; only 7 tubercles in ventrolateral row on merus.

Annulus ventralis (Figure 3d) freely movable, subovate in outline, almost twice as broad as long; cephalic trough lying dextral to median line with sinus originating in fundus, curving sinistrally across median line cephalic to midlength of annulus and, extending caudally in broad arc, terminating premarginally slightly sinistral to median line. Sclerite between fifth pereiopods about 0.65 width of annulus with transverse caudal margin and arched cephalic margin, ventral surface smooth. First pleopod almost reaching cephalic margin of annulus when abdomen flexed.

MORPHOTYPIC MALE, FORM II.—Differing from holotype in following respects: height and width of carapace subequal; areola 4.9 times longer than broad, with only 2 punctations in narrowest part, and constituting 32.8 percent of total length of carapace (41.4 percent of postorbital carapace length); margins of rostrum converging gently from base to apex; branchiostegal spine acute; epistome with cephalic margin more broadly rounded; right antennal scale longer than left with apex of distolateral spine slightly overreaching ultimate podomere of antennular peduncle; plumose setae on ventral surface of ischium of third maxilliped less conspicuous than in holotype but distinctly more so than in allotype; opposable margin of fixed finger of chela with 2 tubercles at base, another at base of distal two-fifths, and narrow band of minute denticles extending from basal tubercles to corneous tip of finger; opposable margin of dactyl of chela with row of 4 or 5 tubercles along basal third of finger followed by narrow band of minute denticles reaching base of corneous tip of finger; ventrolateral margin of merus of cheliped with row of 10 tubercles. Boss on coxa of fifth pereiopod reduced to small rounded tubercle; hooks on ischia of third and fourth pereiopods very small, neither reaching basioischial artculation or opposed by tubercle on corresponding coxa. First pleopod (Figure 3c,e) differing from that of holotype chiefly in lacking any corneous apical elements, all of which less well defined and somewhat inflated, although mesial inclination of distal portion of mesial process well defined.

Measurements (in mm).—

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Pool in roadside ditch, 0.6 mile south of Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina, on U.S Highway 258. The pool of turbid water, some 5 feet wide and 1 to 2 feet deep, had a sand and mud bottom in which a considerable amount of plant debris had accumulated.

DISPOSITION OF TYPES.—The holotypic male, form I, allotype, and morphotypic male, form II, numbers 144942, 144943, 144944, respectively, are deposited in the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), as are the paratypes consisting of 4 I, 11 II, 21 , all of which were collected within 0.3 miles of the type-locality, on 28 May 1971 by D. J. Peters, J. E. Pugh, and H. H. Hobbs, Jr.

RANGE AND SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—In addition to the type-series, the following specimens from North Carolina have been assigned to this species (Figure 4): HALIFAX COUNTY: Deep Creek, 2.0 miles south of Scotland Neck on U.S. Highway 258, 1 II, 1 juv., 1 juv., V/20/71, D.J.P., J.E.P., and H.H.H., Jr., coll. PITT COUNTY: 0.8 miles south of Winterville on State Route 11, 1 I, VIII/31/49, W. R. West and H.H.H., Jr., coll.; 1.9 miles south of Ayden on State Route 11, 3 juv., 3 juv., VIII/31/49, W.R.W. and H.H.H., Jr., coll; 2.8 miles south of Ayden on State Route II, 1 juv., VIII/31/49, W.R.W. and H.H.H., Jr., coll. JOHNSTON COUNTY: 5.3 miles south of Smith-field on U.S. Highway 701, 2 I, 1 II, 1 , 2 juv., 1 juv., IV/15/56, E. T. Hall, Jr., and H.H.H., Jr., coll.; 9.0 miles north of Selma on State Route 96, 1 I, 1 II, 6 , IV/15/56, E.T.H., Jr., and H.H.H., Jr., coll.; 1.0 mile southwest of Kenly on U.S. Highway 301, 1 II, IV/3/65, J. M. Odell, coll.

VARIATIONS.—There are remarkably few variations among the comparatively small series of specimens available. In some, there is a small cervical spine; the rostral margins may converge gently from base or may be somewhat bowed; the spine on the antennal scale occasionally extends slightly beyond the tip of the rostrum. In only one specimen, a first form male from Johnston County, does the areola constitute more than 33.5 percent of the total length of the carapace and 42.7 percent of the postorbital carapace length; in this recently molted specimen the measurements are 34.7 and 44.1 percent, respectively. In general, the width of the areola is greater in proportion to the length in the specimens from Halifax County (4.5 to 6.8, average 5.4 times longer than broad) than in those from Pitt and Johnston counties (6.1 to 7.9, average 6.8 times longer than broad). In the females from Johnston County, the annulus ventralis bears a deep submedian longitudinal trough with the S-shaped sinus located within the fundus and along the walls.

SIZE.—The largest specimen available is a female having a carapace length of 30.8 mm (post-orbital carapace length 23.9 mm). The largest first form male has corresponding lengths of 29.9 and 23.5 mm, and the smallest first form male, 27.2 and 21.5 mm. Ovigerous females or those carrying young have not been observed.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) medialis Hobbs

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) medialis Hobbs, 1975:10, figs. 3, 4.

TYPES.—Holotype, allotype, and morphotype, USNM 144942, 144943, 144944 (male I, female, male II); paratypes, USNM.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Pool in roadside ditch, 0.6 mile (1 km) south of Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina, on U.S. Highway 258.

RANGE.—Neuse and Pamlico river basins in the coastal plain of North Carolina.

HABITAT.—Lentic and sluggish lotic situations.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) orcinus Hobbs and Means

Procambarus orcinus Hobbs and Means, 1972:394, fig. 1.—Caine, 1974:14, figs. 2b, 4f, 5b.—Franz and Lee, 1982:61, fig. 4.

Procambarus (Ortmannicus) orcinus.—Hobbs, 1974b:58, fig. 231.—Hobbs, Hobbs, and Daniel, 1977:132, fig. 61.

TYPES.—Holotype, allotype, and morphotype, USNM 132031, 132032, 132033 (male I, female, male II); paratypes, USNM.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Gopher Sink, 3.1 miles (5 km) southwest of State Route 61 and 0.2 mile (0.3 km) east of State Route 369 (SW , NW , NE , Sec. 16, T.2S, R. 1W), Leon County, Florida.

RANGE.—Known from four localities in Leon and Wakulla counties, Florida.

HABITAT.—Subterranean waters.