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Procambarus pubischelae deficiens Hobbs, 1981
Hookless Crayfish
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G5T4
State Rank: S3
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: No
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: None
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Open water of ditches and other temporary aquatic habitats and simple burrows in and adjacent to those habitats
The overall color of the Hookless Crayfish is tan to brown. Some specimens have a pale stripe down the entire length of the body while others lack this stripe and have more of a speckled appearance (Hobbs 1981). Striped individuals also have dark speckles on the carapace. The claws are brown with darker tubercles and on adult males there is a conspicuous brush of setae along the mesial margin of the palm. On females and younger males, there is a single row of irregular tubercles along the mesial margin of the palm. The areola is fairly wide and the rostrum gradually tapers and is rather spoon-shaped; there are no marginal spines or tubercles. This species reaches a maximum total body length of about 54 mm (2.1 in).
The combination of characters above should serve to separate the Hookless Crayfish from all others with which it might occur except the closely related Brushpalm Crayfish, Procambarus p. pubischelae. These two subspecies are probably interbreeding where their ranges meet and it will take careful examination of the male reproductive structure to separate the two. Refer to Hobbs (1981) for a detailed explanation of this taxonomic situation.
The Hookless Crayfish is considered a secondary burrower (Hobbs 1981) and is thus found in open water and simple burrows in ditches and other temporary aquatic habitats where the water table is near the surface of the ground. The burrows it constructs are typically relatively simple compared to those of primary burrowing species.
No studies of the Hookless Crayfish are known. Crayfishes are considered opportunistic omnivores and likely feed on live and decaying vegetation, aquatic insect larvae, small fishes, and dead animal matter.
Hookless Crayfish is considered a secondary burrower which means that individuals live in open water part of the time but retreat to burrows as water levels decrease. As with stream dwelling species, reproduction likely occurs during the spring and fall, but males in reproductive condition may be found at any time during the year. When female crayfish are ready to lay eggs, they usually find a secure hiding place and hence are rarely encountered. In the case of secondary burrowers, females probably use burrows when they release their eggs. After the eggs are released, the female attaches them to her swimmerets and is said to be “in berry.” Upon hatching, the juvenile crayfish are attached to the mother by a thread. After the juveniles molt for the second time, they are free of the mother, but stay close and will hold on to her for some time. Eventually they move off on their own. Crayfishes molt 6 or 7 times during their first year of life and most are probably able to reproduce by the end of that year. They molt once or twice a year for the remainder of their lives and live about 3 years. Male Hookless Crayfish in reproductive condition have been collected in April, June, August, September, October, and December. In Georgia, one female carrying eggs was found in March, two in May, and three in October. Females with young were found in March, September, and October. The smallest breeding male known is about 38 mm (1.5 in) and the smallest female with eggs or young is 42 mm (1.7 mm) in length (Hobbs 1981).
Burrowing crayfishes may be collected by direct excavation of their burrows, by trapping, and during night surveys. Excavating burrows is time consuming and can be very difficult. It also results in destruction of the animals’ burrow. Traps made with PVC pipes or mist nets can be effective. Burrowing crayfishes are sometimes captured around the openings of their burrows on damp nights. Active burrows are typically found from about mid-March to mid-November if the water table is within about two feet of the surface of the ground. When rains fill the temporary habitats this species inhabits, and the mouths of their burrows are inundated, they may be caught by seining or dipnetting.
The Hookless Crayfish is found primarily in the northernmost headwaters of the Satilla River system and between the Satilla and Altamaha River basins. There is a single record on the north side of the Altamaha just below the confluence of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers. The intergrade zone between Hookless Crayfish and Brushpalm Crayfish is in the Alapaha and Withlacoochee systems of the Suwannee Basin and in the upper Satilla River system (Hobbs 1981).
Activities that destroy temporary aquatic habitats or alter hydrology in the vicinity of burrows threaten this species.
This species is common and widespread and therefore is considered stable.
General watershed level protection measures will help secure the continued existence of the Hookless Crayfish in Georgia. These include the protection of riparian zones, control of sediment and nutrient runoff from farms and construction sites, and limiting the amount of impervious cover (e.g., pavement) within occupied watersheds. Non-native crayfishes should never be used for bait. Instead, anglers should use crayfishes collected from the river system they will be fishing in and should never release unused bait crayfish back into Georgia waters.
Hobbs, H.H., Jr. 1981. The crayfishes of Georgia. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 318:1–549.
Taylor, C.A., G.A. Schuster, J.E. Cooper, R.J. DiStefano, A.G. Eversole, P. Hamr, H.H. Hobbs III, H.W. Robison, C.E. Skelton, and R.F. Thoma. 2007. A reassessment of the conservation status of crayfishes of the United States and Canada after 10+ years of increased awareness. Fisheries 32:372–389.
Christopher E. Skelton
C. Skelton, August 2012: original account
C. Skelton, March 2019: general update of account.