Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: CRAYFISH, BIG CREEK

Phylum: ARTHROPODA

Class: CRUSTACEA

Order: DECAPODA

Family: CAMBARIDAE

Genus: FAXONIUS

Species: PERUNCUS

Taxonomic Authority: (CREASER)

Taxonomy References: 007 , 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G2

Status References: 001 , 003 , 005

Habitat Summary

"Occurs exclusively in small, high gradient, rocky headwater streams."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 002

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Endemic to the St. Francis river basin in southeast Missouri. Most abundant in Big Creek and its tributaries on the west side."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
IRON ADAIR
MADISON ANDREW
ST. FRANCOIS ATCHISON
WAYNE AUDRAIN
BARRY
BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 008 , 006 , 002 , 004

Distribution by Watersheds

St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Lower Ozark

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, upper perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, cobble/gravel"

References for Aquatic Associations: 002

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 002

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

""

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Food Habits Unknown; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 002 , 004

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding adult niche requirements:

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

References for resting adult niche requirements:

Niche Requirement Summary

Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Bottom type: rubble
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Siltation: low
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Underwater cover specified in comments(00105)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Generally have fall breeding season and spring reproduction season *02*. In MO, females have shown signs of mating in July *04*, also in October and November *02*. Reproductively active males were captured throughout the year, with the fewest being found May-July *04*.
017 Eggs held in the laboratory in MO hatched in about three weeks at water temperatures 14.5-16 degrees F *04*. .
018 15-123 eggs, average 61 *02*.
021 Females carry eggs *02*.
099 Hatchlings become independent of mother 2-4 weeks after hatching *04*. Males and females begin molting in April; most adults molt in May and June, though some molting occurs in the fall *04*.
038 May live up to 3 years *02*.
003 In MO were most often found in association with orconectes luteus, orconectes punctimanus, orconectes hylas (an introduced species), cambarus hubbsi and cambarus diogenes *04*.

Life History Information

Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Closely associated plant or animal species specified in comments(003)
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Gestation/incubation period specified in comments(017)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Parental care of young: female
Parental care of young specified in comments(021)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Generally have fall breeding season and spring reproduction season *02*. In MO, females have shown signs of mating in July *04*, also in October and November *02*. Reproductively active males were captured throughout the year, with the fewest being found May-July *04*.
017 Eggs held in the laboratory in MO hatched in about three weeks at water temperatures 14.5-16 degrees F *04*. .
018 15-123 eggs, average 61 *02*.
021 Females carry eggs *02*.
099 Hatchlings become independent of mother 2-4 weeks after hatching *04*. Males and females begin molting in April; most adults molt in May and June, though some molting occurs in the fall *04*.
038 May live up to 3 years *02*.
003 In MO were most often found in association with orconectes luteus, orconectes punctimanus, orconectes hylas (an introduced species), cambarus hubbsi and cambarus diogenes *04*.

References for life history: 002 , 004

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2021. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. pp.56.
002 Pflieger, W.L. 1996. The Crayfishes Of Missouri. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 152 Pp.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Riggert, C.M., R.J. Distefano And D.B. Noltie. 1999. Distributions And Selected Aspects Of The Life Histories And Habitat Associations Of The Crayfishes Orconectes Peruncus (Creaser, 1931) And O. Quadruncus (Creaser, 1933) In Missouri. American Midland Naturalist. 142(2): 348-362.
005 Distefano, R.J., J. Young and D.B. Noltie. 2002. A study of the life history of Orconectes hylas with comparisons to Orconectes peruncus and Orconectes quadruncus in Ozark Streams, Missouri, USA. Freshwater Crayfish 13:439-456.
006 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
007 CRANDALL, K.A. AND S.DE GRAVE. 2017. AN UPDATED CLASSIFICATION OF THE FRESHWATER CRAYFISHES (DECAPODA:ASTACIDEA) OF THE WORLD, WITH A COMPLETE SPECIES LIST. J. OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY 2017:1-39.
008 Unpb Distefano, Robert. Statewide Historical Crayfish Database. Missouri Dept. of Conservation, 3500 E. Gans Rd., Columbia, MO 65201.