Procambarus natchitochae

An individual crayfish can be identified to a group of a few species within the genus and subgenus Procambarus (Pennides) by looking at a few distinguishing characteristics. Two pairs of cervical spines, a broadly open areola, and lateral rostral spines are diagnostic physical features that characterize P. natchitochae, P. vioscai, P. dupratzi, and P. pentastylus from other species of crayfish.[2] Color is not always a reliable characteristic in identification, but P. natchitochae (and the three other species above) generally have a dark brown saddle on the posterior part of the carapace and dark lateral stripes on the abdomen.[2] Form I male gonopod characteristics or collection location are required for species level identification.[2]

Procambarus natchitochae live in streams and ditches with flowing current, clear to cloudy water, and rocky to sandy substrates.[2][3] The species is endemic to the United States and is listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN.[3]

NatureServe gives P. natchitochae a global rating of G5, or 'secure', and a national ranking of N5 for 'secure',[4] while at the state level, Louisiana ranks it as S4, for 'Apparently secure', and Arkansas and Texas rate it as SNR, or 'State Not Ranked'.[4] The American Fisheries Society ranks it as 'Currently Stable'.[3] Conservation assessment is lacking for this species because there are little available data on the population or threats, other than the current species distribution.[4]

The P. natchitochae holotype, allotype, and morphotype were collected from a tributary of Spring Creek at Melder, on State Route 85, in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. The type specimens are currently housed at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.[1][5] under catalog numbers 93649, 93650, 93651 (Male Form I, Female, Male Form II, respectively).[1][5]