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Procambarus Hayi

Scientific Name : Procambarus Hayi

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Subphylum : Crustacea
Class : Malacostraca
Order : Decapoda
Family : Cambaridae
Genus : Procambarus
Species : Procambarus Hayi

Procambarus Hayi has been assessed as Least Concern. This species has a wide distribution, is believed to be abundant and has no major threat processes impacting upon it. Further research is required to determine the abundance of this species and whether it is impacted by any major threat processes.

Range Description Procambarus Hayi : This species is found in the Tombigbee and Tallahatchie river basins in Alabama and Mississippi, and the Hatchie drainage in Tennessee (Payne 1972).

Native: United States (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee)

Habitat and Ecology Procambarus Hayi : This species is found in permanent sluggish streams and lentic situations such as ponds. The highest densities are found in streams which are upstream or downstream of small impoundments. Juveniles are found in masses of fine root systems along stream margins (US Forest Service 2008). In ponds, Procambarus Hayi adults use deeper water by day moving into shallow waters or even terrestrial habitats by night (Payne 1972). This species is also a secondary burrower (Payne 1972).

Procambarus Hayi (Faxon) was studied for 2 years near State College, Miss. Seasonal and temporal changes within the populations were determined from periodic field samples and laboratory observations. The known geographic range of the species was defined and its preference for lentic and sluggish lotic waters was indicated.  Procambarus Hayi  bred in spring and summer and oviposited and hatched from late summer to autumn. A study of monthly ovarian egg development confirmed the period of oviposition. Oviposition and the first juvenile molts occurred within the burrow. Upon reaching the 3rd instar, juveniles became independent of the female and entered the open water from mid-September through November. Most became adults during May and June of the following year after attaining a carapace length of 36.0 to 45.0 mm. Most crawfish reproduced 8 to 10 months after hatching, lived to reproduce again the following summer at 18 to 20 months, then died during the following autumn at approximately 24 months. A few apparently reproduced a third time and died after 36 months.