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Procambarus talpoides Hobbs, 1981
Mole Crayfish
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S5
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: Georgia habitat information not available
The overall color of the Mole Crayfish is brown with bluish or purplish hues and no distinguishing markings. The lower sides of the body are lighter than the back and the claws have a purplish or bluish tint. The claws are covered with dark tubercles. In some populations, there are individuals that are almost entirely blue. Occasionally some members of a population will have a pale area around the areola and a narrow pale stripe down the center of the abdomen. The mesial margin of the palm has a single row of jagged tubercles and the areola is very narrow. The rostrum tapers and there are no marginal spines or tubercles. This species reaches a maximum total body length of about 80 mm (3.1 in).
In Georgia, there are two species that could possibly be confused with the Mole Crayfish: Christmas Tree Crayfish, Procambarus pygmaeus, and Poor Crayfish, Procambarus caritus. The Christmas Tree Crayfish typically has striking green and red coloration but details of the male first pleopod are required to separate the Mole Crayfish from Poor Crayfish.
The Mole Crayfish is considered a primary burrower and inhabits complex burrow systems in low wet areas where the water table is near the surface of the ground.
No studies of the Mole Crayfish are known and the diet of burrowing crayfishes in general is poorly understood. Crayfishes are considered opportunistic omnivores and likely feed on a variety of items, both plant and animal, living or dead. Burrowing crayfishes may forage around the mouths of their burrows, eat organisms that crawl or fall into the burrow, or eat worms that inadvertently tunnel through a burrow wall.
Burrowing crayfishes inhabit a system of tunnels that may be very complex with several openings to the surface. Openings to the tunnels are often marked by piles of dirt or mud pellets (chimneys). Depending on the soil type and moisture content, these chimneys can reach heights of 15 cm (6 inches) or more. These crayfishes are typically confined to their burrows, but a male must leave its burrow to search for females during the reproductive season. As mentioned above, they may also forage near the opening of their burrow. Active burrows with fresh soil are seen from late spring to late fall, particularly after rain events. During the dry part of the summer, burrow openings may be plugged to help conserve moisture in the burrow. Reproduction probably occurs during the spring and fall, but males in reproductive condition may be found at any time during the year. It is rare to find more than one adult crayfish in the same burrow. When a female crayfish releases her eggs, she 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. Multiple juveniles are occasionally found in a single burrow. 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. Although it is difficult to study burrowing crayfishes, some researchers believe they may live as long as 10 years. Male Mole Crayfish in reproductive condition have been collected in February, March, April, May, October, and December, although most were found in April (Hobbs 1981). Females carrying eggs were found in March, April, and October and females with young in March, May, and October. The females carried from about 35-120 eggs; generally, the larger the female, the more eggs carried. The smallest breeding male found is about 44 mm (1.7 in) and the smallest female with eggs or young is about 52 mm (2.0 in), respectively (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.
The Mole Crayfish ranges from north-central Florida to south-central and southeastern Georgia (Hobbs 1989). In Georgia it inhabits the Altamaha, Ochlockonee, Satilla, and Suwannee river basins (Hobbs 1981).
Activities that destroy burrows or alter hydrology in the vicinity of burrows threaten this and other burrowing species.
This species is common and widespread and therefore is considered stable.
If possible, areas with burrows should be protected from land disturbing activities. Additional surveys and life history studies are needed to better understand virtually all burrowing crayfishes to allow predictions of their response to environmental change. Environmental education programs should include information about burrowing crayfishes.
Hobbs, H.H., Jr. 1981. The crayfishes of Georgia. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 318:1–549.
Hobbs, H.H., Jr. 1989. An illustrated checklist of the American crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 480:1–236.
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.
D.Weiler, September 2019: photo added