Linear cobalt crayfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Linear cobalt crayfish |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cambarus
|
| Species: |
gentryi
|
The linear cobalt crayfish (scientific name: Cambarus gentryi) is a small, burrowing crayfish. It's special because of its amazing deep blue shell. This crayfish lives only in Tennessee, USA. It is one of 115 species in the Cambarus family.
Contents
Discovering the Linear Cobalt Crayfish
Even though some of these crayfish were found in the 1890s, scientists didn't officially describe them until 1970. A scientist named Horton Hobbs Jr. gave it its official name. He named it after Dr. Glenn Gentry, who collected some of these crayfish in 1968.
Where the Linear Cobalt Crayfish Lives
This special crayfish lives only in the southern part of Tennessee, USA. It has been found in the Cumberland and Duck river areas. Scientists have recorded 37 sightings of this crayfish between 1962 and 2022.
What the Linear Cobalt Crayfish Looks Like
The linear cobalt crayfish has a shell that is about 3 to 5 centimeters (about 1 to 2 inches) long. Its pincers are about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long. The shell is a beautiful cobalt blue color. It also has orange, yellow, or yellowish-green markings.
Its eyes are small but work well. Like other decapods, which means "ten-footed," this crayfish has ten pairs of legs. The front pair of legs are strong pincers called chela.
Where the Linear Cobalt Crayfish Lives
The linear cobalt crayfish makes its home by digging burrows. It digs these burrows in damp areas along river banks. These burrows can have many openings to the surface. They can be up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) long and about 1 meter (3 feet) deep. The depth of the soil can sometimes limit how deep they can dig.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Adult male crayfish in this family change between two forms. One form is for reproduction (called form I), and the other is not (form II). Males in form I have larger claws. In some crayfish species, females in form I have a wider body.
Scientists have found male C. gentryi in their reproductive form at different times of the year. These times include April, May, and November. So far, scientists have not found any females carrying eggs or young.
The exact lifespan of the linear cobalt crayfish is not known. However, other crayfish in the same family can live for 6 to 7 years.
How the Linear Cobalt Crayfish Interacts with Others
The linear cobalt crayfish is a host for a tiny creature called Uncinocythere zancla. This tiny creature is a type of osctracod, which is a small crustacean. It lives on the outside of other crustaceans, like the linear cobalt crayfish. It attaches itself to the crayfish's shell.
Conservation Status
The linear cobalt crayfish is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN. This means that scientists believe it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
