Orconectes leptogonopodus (Hobbs)

AR Map [dots indicate Arkansas Ouachita National Forest collection sites]

OK Map [dots indicate Oklahoma Ouachita National Forest collection sites]

Recognition Characters: Rostrum with lateral spines, margins somewhat thickened and slightly convex laterad. Areola about five times longer than broad with three to five punctations in narrowest part - length about 32 percent of entire length of carapace; postorbital ridges terminating cephalad in heavy coneous spines; sides of carapace devoid of spines; antennae shorter than body; in male, hooks on ischipodites of third pereiopods only. First pleopod of first form male extremely long and slender, reaching cephalad to coxopodite of first periopod; shoulder present on cephalic surface; central projection decidedly longer than mesial process, setiform and straight almost to tip; mesial process slender and bent mesiad near tip.

Coloration: Body color is slate gray with chela slate gray dorsally. The uropods and telson are fuscus. Dorsolateral paired bright red spots occur on tergal segments three, four, and five while a red bar runs across tergal segment six. A light tinge of red occurs at the base of the telson. Cheeks and lower edge of gill cover have pinkish streaks. Ventrally, the body is colored off-white to light pink and the underside of the chela is off-white to brownish-orange on the fingers (Williams, 1954).

Size: Adults are about 1 to 3 inches (25-76 mm) in total length.

Habitat: Hobbs (1989) presented the habitat of O. leptogonopodus as small clear rocky streams.

General Range: The general range of this crayfish is the Red River drainage of Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma in the Ouachita Mountain province (Hobbs, 1989).

Range Within Arkansas: This crayfish species is found in the Red River drainage (Little River system).

Comments: The type locality of this crayfish is McKinney's Creek, 4.7 miles northeast of Hatfield, Polk County, Arkansas on U. S. Hwy. 71 (Hobbs, 1948).

Orconectes leptogonopodus was collected 12 times during the survey from its Little River drainage streams and rivers. These twelve collections produced 54 individuals. While locally abundant, it was rather uncommon overall on the ONF in Arkansas and Oklahoma as it was limited to the Little River drainage.

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