Cambarus (Puncticambarus) callainus, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the Big Sandy River basin in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, USA

• Published in: Zootaxa Vol. 3900; no. 4; p. 541
• Main Authors: Thoma, Roger F, Loughman, Zachary J, Fetzner, Jr, James W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand 24-12-2014
• Subjects: Animal Distribution; Animal Structures - anatomy & histology; Animal Structures - growth & development; Animals; Astacoidea - anatomy & histology; Astacoidea - classification; Astacoidea - genetics; Astacoidea - growth & development; Body Size; Female; Kentucky; Male; Organ Size; Phylogeny; Virginia; West Virginia; West Virginia; Virginia; Kentucky
• ISSN: 1175-5334
• DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3900.4.5

Cambarus (Puncticambarus) callainus, new species, is a stream-dwelling crayfish endemic to the Big Sandy River basin in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. Within the basin, C. callainus occurs in the Levisa, Tug, and Russell fork watersheds. The new species is morphologically and genetically most similar to Cambarus veteranus, which is endemic to the Upper Guyandotte River basin of West Virginia. The new species can be differentiated from C. veteranus by its more lanceolate rostrum (width less than 50% length), slightly more obtuse suborbital angle, and less well-defined lateral impression at the base of the chelae.