Procambarus clarkii

History of Spread

Procambarus clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish) is native to the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico drainages from FL, Mexico, and NM north to OH and IL. It is now the most cosmopolitan crayfish species. P. clarkii was listed as being introduced in 12 states, by Hobbs (1989) and 14 states by Taylor et al. (1996). Among states with established populations are HI, CA, OR, AZ, GA, SC, NC, MD and VA (Cooper et al. 1998; Hobbs 1989; Taylor et al. 1996). This crayfish is widely cultured as food, and sometimes used as bait or as an aquarium pet, and has been introduced into every continent except Antarctica. It is well established in Spain, Portugal, Japan, China, Taiwan, Kenya, and Brazil, among other countries (Hobbs et al. 1989, Huner and Barr 1984; Huner and Barr 1991; Taylor et al. 1996).

Procambarus clarkii has been reported as introduced into MD and VA (Hobbs 1989; Hobbs et al. 1989; Huner and Barr 1984; Huner 1986; Taylor et al. 1996), but these checklists and species accounts gave no specific locations. Two collections in the United States National Museum are from Western Shore VA Coastal Plain sites, located not far from tidal waters. The extent of P. clarkii's range in the Chesapeake region is not known, but is probably widespread and locally common in coastal plain wetlands, including tidal fresh and low-salinity marshes and swamps (Norden 1995). A recent survey of MD crayfishes (Maryland Biological Stream Survey, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1989-2007), found P. clarkii to be widespread in the tidal fresh Potomac River and tributaries of the Eastern Shore (Kilian et al. 2010). This species is considered an aggressive competitor which has been known to displace native species when introduced (Hobbs et al. 1989).

York River Drainage- Procambarus clarkii was collected in 1988 in Cohoke Mill Creek, King William County VA, which is tributary to the tidal Pamunkey, ~ 6 km from the from tidal river. (United States National Museum of Natural History collections)

Potomac River Drainage- Procambarus clarkii was collected in 1992, from an unnamed stream near the prison at Lorton VA (United States National Museum of Natural History collections), 5-10 km from the tidal river. In surveys from 1989 to 2007, P. clarkii was found from Piscataway Creek, downriver to Wades Bay and Nanjemoy Creek (Killian et al. 2009; Kilian et al. 2010).

Patuxent Drainage- Procambarus clarkii was introduced tothe Patuxent National Wildlife Research Center in 1963, as a wildlife food. It is established and common in Patuxent National Wildlife Research Center, and is probably widespread through the freshwater Patuxent drainage (Norden 1995; Kilian et al. 2009).

Eastern Shore Tributaries- Procambarus clarkii was probably first introduced for culture in 1981, in Hebron MD (Associated Press 1986; Kilian et al. 2009). It is reared commercially in ponds on the lower Eastern Shore in MD and VA and is escaped in freshwater tributaries there (Norden 1995 personal communication). There have been at least 7 culture operations historically, only 2 were operating in 2009 (Killian et al. 2009). In field surveys, it was found in tributaries of the upper Bay (Fairlee Creek, Kent County) south to tributaries of Fishing Bay and the Pocomoke River (Killian et al. 2009; Kilian et al. 2011).

History References - Associated Press 1986; Hobbs 1989; Hobbs et al. 1989; Huner and Barr 1984; Huner 1986; Norden 1995 personal communication; Taylor et al. 1996; United States National Museum of Natural History collections; Killian et al. 2009; Killian et al. 2011

Invasion Comments