Crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history Author Morehouse, Reid L. Author Tobler, Michael text Zootaxa 2013 3717 2 101 157 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.3717.2.1 fad4163f-156b-4f1a-a5e9-c9f48df52e0a 1175-5326 248539 C8CDC011-974C-48B4-9E03-88F570EEDE13 Cambarus tartarus Hobbs and Cooper, 1972 : Oklahoma Cave Crayfish General charateristics. A white (albinistic) crayfish with small, unpigmented eyes, and long slender chelae. Adults rarely exceed 50 mm in total length. The carapace is lacking cervical spines and is subcylindrical. The rostrum is the broadest at the base and has small marginal spines. The body and pereiopods are covered in conspicuous stiff setae. In form I males, gonopods terminate in two terminal processes, both recurved at angles greater than 90°. The central projection is short, heavy, and does not taper. In females, the annulus ventralis is symmetrical with the caudal portion somewhat movable (Hobbs & Cooper, 1972). Life coloration. Off-white to pinkish-white, especially in the abdominal region ( Figure 37 ). Newly molted individuals are nearly all white. Smaller individuals appear somewhat translucent. Similar species. Cambarus tartarus closely resembles the only other cave crayfish in Oklahoma, which is C . subterraneus (see C . subterraneus section for differences). Distribution and habitat. Cambarus tartarus is a tertiary burrower and is currently known from two caves (January-Stansbury and Long's) in Delaware County, Oklahoma ( Figure 38 ). Both of these caves are situated along Spavinaw Creek. These caves are formed in limestone, and the bottom is covered with fine silt. Life history. Populations have been monitored periodically by the United States Fish and Wildlife to ensure a viable population still exists and form I and II males and females have been documented from both caves (Fenolio et al. , 2006). Syntopic species. Orconectes neglectus neglectus has been documented in January-Stansbury cave especially during the winter months. However, it appears that O . neglectus neglectus is restricted to the front part of the cave, where the substrate predominantly consists of gravel, while C. tartarus occurs in deeper parts of the cave over silt covered ground. Conservation status. AFS: Endangered; Heritage Rank: Critically Imperiled (G1); IUCN: Critically Endangered; ODWC: Tier 1. Additional resources. Hobbs et al. (2006); Jones & Bergey (2005); Taylor et al. (2004).