Faxonius virilis
{{Short description|Species of crayfish}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| image_alt = Adult
| image = Northern Crayfish, Rideau River 1.jpg
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status2 = G5
| status2_system = TNC
| genus = Faxonius
| species = virilis
| authority = (Hagen, 1870){{ITIS |id=97425 |taxon=Faxonius virilis |access-date=October 20, 2010}}
| synonyms = *Cambarus virilis Hagen, 1870
- Cambarus wisconsinensis Bundy in Forbes, 1876
- Cambarus debilis Bundy in Forbes, 1876
- Cambarus couesi Streets, 1877
}}
Faxonius virilis is a species of crayfish known as the virile crayfish, northern crayfish, eastern crayfish, and lesser known as the lake crayfish or common crawfish. Faxonius virilis was reclassified in August 2017, and the genus was changed from Orconectes to Faxonius.{{cite journal |journal=Journal of Crustacean Biology |year=2017 |volume=37 |issue=5 |pages=615–653 |doi=10.1093/jcbiol/rux070 |title= An updated classification of the freshwater crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidea) of the world, with a complete species list |author= Keith A Crandall |author2= Sammy De Grave | name-list-style=amp |doi-access=free }} It is native to the central United States, east to tributaries of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River in New York{{cite web|url=https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=215|title=Faxonius virilis (Hagen, 1870)|website=Nonindigenous Aquatic Species|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|last=Durland Donahou|first=A.|location=Gainesville, Florida|date=24 July 2019|orig-date=Peer reviewed on 13 November 2017|access-date=25 August 2023}} and to much of Canada.
Ecology
Faxonius virilis can be found under stones and logs in lakes, streams, and wetlands, where they hide from predators, such as fish. They are identified by the brown of rust-red carapace and large chelipeds, which are usually blue in colour. Faxonius virilis feeds on a wide range of plants and invertebrates, as well as tadpoles and even small fish.
Distribution
File:Young Orconectes virilis.jpeg
Faxonius virilis is found in southern Canada from Alberta to Quebec and in the northern United States, but has become an invasive species in parts of North America outside its native range, and was discovered in the United Kingdom in 2008.{{cite journal |journal=Aquatic Invasions |year=2008 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=102–104 |doi=10.3391/ai.2008.3.1.18 |title=The virile crayfish, Orconectes virilis (Hagen, 1870) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Cambaridae), identified in the UK |author=Daniel Ahern |author2=Judy England |author3=Adam Ellis |name-list-style=amp |doi-access=free }} It is listed as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Invasive status
In Europe, Faxonius virilis is included since 2016 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list).{{Cite web|title=List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern - Environment - European Commission|url=https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/list/index_en.htm|access-date=2021-07-27|website=ec.europa.eu}} This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.{{Cite journal|title=REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R1143&from=EN|journal=Official Journal of the European Union|access-date=26 August 2023|volume=57|issue=L 317|date=4 November 2014|pages=35–55}}
Uses
Faxonius virilis is used as fishing bait and as food for humans, and also as aquarium food for carnivorous fish.{{cite book |author=Krista Kagume |title=Ontario Nature Guide |publisher=Lone Pine Publishing|location=Edmonton|year=2008 |isbn=978-1-55105-564-0}}
References
{{Reflist|32em}}
External links
{{Portal|Crustaceans}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.crayfish.org.uk/ |title=UK Crayfish Website |publisher=Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust |access-date=2012-01-26 |archive-date=2020-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025050954/http://crayfish.org.uk/ |url-status=dead }}
- {{cite web |url=https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=215|title=USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species – Virile Crayfish |publisher=US Geological Survey}}
{{Edible crustaceans}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q59282984|from2=Q3933612}}
Category:Freshwater crustaceans of North America
Category:Fauna of the Plains-Midwest (United States)
Category:Crustaceans described in 1870