Faxonius longidigitus

Based on Crandall and De Grave (2017), the representatives of Orconectes form at least two distinct groups. The nominal group (the "cave Orconectes") form a monophyletic group that is more closely related to members of Cambarus, while the remaining "Orconectes" are more closely related to Barbicambarus, Creaserinus, and other species of Cambarus (Crandall and Fitzpatrick 1996, Fetzner 1996). As the type species of Orconectes, Orconectes inermis Cope, 1872, belongs to the cave-dwelling group, the genus is herein restricted to just those taxa. The surface-dwelling taxa now excluded from Orconectes sensu stricto are herein placed in the resurrected genus Faxonius Ortmann, 1905a, the oldest available name previously considered to be a synonym of Orconectes Cope, 1872.

While there is no single pervasive or severe current threat to the species, there are a variety of anthropogenic threats in the region affecting aquatic habitats and species.

This species is found across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in the White River Basin (Pflieger 1996). Range extent is probably less than 20,000 sq. km.

This species occurs in 23 streams in Arkansas and half as many in Missouri.

Species in this genus are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation, as well as habitat fragmentation at range edges; specifically, threats include habitat modification due to agriculture, wetland destruction, and pollution (including air, water and soil pollution as these species spend time burrowing and in temporary waters). Species in this genus are also likely threatened by climate change due to their narrow thermal tolerances and small ranges. Finally, competition from introduced crayfish species (Orconectes rusticus, Procambarus clarkii, Cambarus robustus) is considered a threat to the species in this genus (Guiasu 2007).