Cambarus

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Cambarus is a large and diverse genus of crayfish from the United States and Canada. The adults range in size from about Template:Convert up to approximately Template:Convert.

DescriptionEdit

The genus Cambarus is the second largest freshwater crayfish genus inhabiting the Northern Hemisphere, with only sixty fewer species than the genus Procambarus.<ref name=":0" /> Though Cambarus are varied across species, the two terminal elements that make up the male form I gonopod form ninety degree angles with the central appendage, allowing for their identification. Unlike the genus Procambarus whose first pleopod tends to have three processes at the tip, Cambarus has only one or two.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> Cambarus reach Template:Convert carapace lengths in their first year, while average adult carapace length ranges from Template:Convert.<ref name=":3" /> The name Cambarus comes from an alteration of Latin cammarus, meaning "lobster".Template:Citation needed

As a genus containing nearly 100 species, Cambarus's coloration is variable.<ref name=":0" /> Cambarus bartonii is dark brown, while species like Cambarus pauleyi range from subtle to vibrant blues and reds.<ref name=":0" /> Other species are light green or grayish in color.<ref name=":0" />

BiogeographyEdit

Most species of Cambarus are restricted to the United States and Canada. They are distributed along the eastern coast, extending from New Brunswick to northern Florida.<ref name=":0" /> However, the genus extends as far westward as the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Colorado, inhabiting a variety of freshwater environments.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HabitatEdit

Cambarus occupy a range of freshwater environments including streams, rivers, lakes, and burrows. Burrowing species of the genus include Cambarus dubius.<ref name=":0" /> Cambarus also include many cave-dwelling species, both stygobites and stygophiles.<ref name=":3" /> While salinity and temperature changes minimally affect Cambarus, the genus has shown an intolerance to pollution.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref>

EcologyEdit

DietEdit

Like other crayfish, Cambarus are foragers. Diets are largely plant-based, though Cambarus also consume small marine organisms like molluscs, larvae, tadpoles and amphibian eggs. Cambarus consume small rodents or birds when available.<ref name=":3" /> In their first year, Cambarus typically consume 1-4% of their overall body-weight each day.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref> The genus is central to many freshwater food webs as they help maintain water quality through consumption of algae.<ref name=":2" />

VulnerabilityEdit

One of the largest crayfish genera, Cambarus includes a sizable number of vulnerable species.<ref name=":2" /> Cave-dwellers like Cambarus jonesi are at risk due to their lack of genetic diversity and low population count. Other species like Cambarus veteranus are at risk due to human practices like logging and mining, which increase sediment amounts in freshwater environments.<ref name=":0" /> Increased sediment causes these freshwater environments to be uninhabitable, and Cambarus are forced to relocate as a result.<ref name=":0" />

GrowthEdit

Molting occurs among Cambarus approximately 5-10 times during their first year, and 3-5 times during subsequent years. Cambarus remain relatively inactive during periods of molting, as the shedding of chitinous exoskeletons leaves them more vulnerable to predation and injury.<ref name=":3" /> Many species of Cambarus continue to grow well into adulthood.<ref name=":3" />

ReproductionEdit

Cambarus typically mate in the early spring. Both Cambarus bartonii and Cambarus robustus only mate once during their three-year life span, with females of both carrying fewer eggs than those of the genus Orconectes.<ref name=":3" />

GalleryEdit

ClassificationEdit

The genus Cambarus contains around 100 species,<ref>{{#if:97337 | {{#invoke:template wrapper|wrap|_template=cite web|_exclude=id,ID,taxon

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| Template:Citation error }}</ref> many of which are listed on the IUCN Red List.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Species in the genus were formerly divided among 12 subgenera.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a 2017 study,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> these subgenera were found to lack any phylogenetic validity and were therefore eliminated.

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Cambarus aculabrum Hobbs & Brown, 1987 CR – Benton County cave crayfish
Cambarus acuminatus Faxon, 1884 LC - Acuminate Crayfish<ref name="red">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Cambarus adustus Thoma, Fetzner, Stocker and Loughman, 2016<ref>{{#if:1133603