Pacifastacus leniusculus

(Dana, 1852)

Signal Crayfish

G5Secure Found in 148 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.113778
Element CodeICMAL31040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassMalacostraca
OrderDecapoda
FamilyAstacidae
GenusPacifastacus
Other Common Names
écrevisse du Pacifique (FR) Noble Crayfish (EN)
Concept Reference
Hobbs, H. H., Jr. 1989. An Illustrated Checklist of the American Crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 480:1-236.
Taxonomic Comments
Three subspecies have been recognized, P. l. leniusculus, P. l. klamathensis, and P. l. trowbridgii, but more work is needed to clarify their status (see Sonntag 2006, Larson et al. 2012, Larson et al. 2016). No subspecies were recognized in Crandall and De Grave (2017). Kawai (2018) provides a detailed description of the taxa with illustrations of taxonomic characteristics for further taxonomic works.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-02-22
Change Date1996-02-19
Edition Date2009-07-01
Edition AuthorsCordeiro, J.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
This is an invasive, r-selected and widespread species which is able to out-compete native species often growing to a larger size. This species is also resistant to the crayfish plague but is a carrier the disease and is able to thrive in a wide reange of habitats. It has been introduced into Europe and outside of its native range in the USA. No conservation measures are required.
Range Extent Comments
Ranges from British Columbia to California; introduced into Europe and Japan (Hobbs, 1989). Pacifastacus leniculus has been introduced into many countries throughout Europe and California, Nevada and Utah in the USA. This species was introduced during the 1970s and 1980s, is widely cultivated and is established in the wild, from where it is harvested (Harlioglu and Holdich, 2001). Pacifastacus leniusculus leniusculus is distributed throughout British Columbia, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Pacifastacus leniusculus klamathensis is distributed throughout British Columbia in Canada, Idaho and south to central California in the USA. Pacifastacus leniusculus trowbridgii is distributed throughout British Columbia in Canada and California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington in the USA, and has been introduced into California and Nevada in the USA, and also introduced into Japan.
Occurrences Comments
Extremely common species. Harvested population in Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon, found to have mean density of 0.24 to 1.13 per square meter with total abundance 36 million (+- 8 million) individuals (Lewis and Horton, 1996). Introductions have been made throughout California, Nevada and Utah, as well as various parts of Europe (Rogers, 2005).
Threat Impact Comments
There are no known threats.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Generally prefers cool water with current over rocky bottom; does not burrow; is highly adaptable and can be found in a wide variety of habitats including coastal and mountain streams and lakes, reservoirs, and the saline waters in river deltas (Hogger, 1988).

Reproduction

Lewis and Horton (1996) found for populations in Oregon that hatching began during the second week in April and eight age classes identified.
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS5Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
WyomingSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
NevadaSNANo
CaliforniaSNRYes
MontanaS5Yes
UtahSNAYes
WashingtonSNRYes
IdahoS4Yes
Roadless Areas (148)
California (59)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Bell QuinbyShasta-Trinity National Forest11,556
BlackKlamath National Forest6,530
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Bonanza KingShasta-Trinity National Forest16,402
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
ChinquapinShasta-Trinity National Forest22,040
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Duncan CanyonTahoe National Forest8,621
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Grizzly PeakPlumas National Forest6,222
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mystic (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest836
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Oat Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,223
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PacksaddleSix Rivers National Forest3,862
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
Poison HoleEldorado National Forest2,627
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,835
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
WattersonInyo National Forest6,922
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
Idaho (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
West Meadow CreekNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest115,949
Montana (13)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
HoodooLolo National Forest105,162
Patricks Knob - North CutoffLolo National Forest16,970
QuiggLolo National Forest67,267
Reservation DivideLolo National Forest16,908
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
South Siegel - South CutoffLolo National Forest13,474
Stony MountainLolo National Forest32,796
Nevada (7)
AreaForestAcres
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Pine Grove NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,749
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Steward BasinHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,475
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
Oregon (46)
AreaForestAcres
Badger CreekMt. Hood National Forest847
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Castle Rock AppendageUmpqua National Forest4,649
Cougar BluffUmpqua National Forest5,574
Drift CreekSiuslaw National Forest6,333
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
ElkhornWillamette National Forest9,380
FairviewUmpqua National Forest7,417
French Pete (a)Willamette National Forest1,668
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
Greenhorn MountainMalheur National Forest15,936
Greenhorn Mtn.Umatilla National Forest11,191
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
Jaussaud CorralUmatilla National Forest5,535
LakeMt. Hood National Forest1,327
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
LastUmpqua National Forest7,666
Lord Flat Somers PointWallowa-Whitman National Forest67,738
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
Menagerie (rooster Rock)Willamette National Forest374
Middle SantiamWillamette National Forest7,316
Moose LakeWillamette National Forest5,013
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
North PaulinaDeschutes National Forest19,670
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
Skimmerhorn AppendageUmpqua National Forest1,820
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
South PaulinaDeschutes National Forest9,074
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Twin LakesMt. Hood National Forest6,055
Upper Grande RondeWallowa-Whitman National Forest11,723
WaldoDeschutes National Forest4,973
Walla Walla RiverUmatilla National Forest34,416
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Williams CreekUmpqua National Forest5,844
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
Washington (19)
AreaForestAcres
BackboneGifford Pinchot National Forest1,201
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
HorseshoeGifford Pinchot National Forest7,579
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Mt. BaldyOlympic National Forest3,557
Packwood LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest1,084
QuartzWenatchee National Forest8,550
Silver StarGifford Pinchot National Forest7,779
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
References (16)
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  2. Crandall, K. A., and S. De Grave. 2017. An updated classification of the freshwater crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidea) of the world, with a complete species list. Journal of Crustacean Biology 37(5):615-653.
  3. Goldman, C.R. and J.C. Rundquist. 1977. A comparative ecological study of the Californian crayfish <i>P. leniusculus</i> (Dana) from two subalpine lakes. Freshwater Crayfish, 3: 51-80.
  4. Guan, R.Z. and P.R. Wiles. 1998. Feeding ecology of the signal crayfish <i>Pacifastacus leniusculus</i> in a British lowland river. Aquaculture 169(3-4): 177-193.
  5. Harlioglu, M. M. and D. M. Holdich. 2001. Meat yields in the introduced crayfish, <i>Pac</i><i>í</i><i>fastacus leniusculus</i> and <i>Astacus leptodactylus</i>, from British waters. Aquacultural Research 32:411-417.
  6. Hobbs, H. H., Jr. 1989. An Illustrated Checklist of the American Crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 480:1-236.
  7. Hogger, J.B. 1988. Ecology, population biology and behaviour. Chapter 5, pages 114-144 In D.M. Holdich and R.S. Lowery (eds.) Freshwater Crayfish. Biology, Management and Exploitation. Croom Helm: London, and Timber Press: Portland, Oregon. 498 pp.
  8. Kawai, T. 2018. Observation of museum specimens of the genus <i>Pacifastacus</i> Bo , 1950 (Decapoda: Astacidae). Nauplius 26: e2018001
  9. Larson, E. R., C. L. Abbott, N. Usio, N. Azuma, K. A. Wood, L-M. Herborg, and J. D. Olden. 2012. The signal crayfish is not a single species: cryptic diversity and invasions in the Pacific Northwest range of <i>Pacifastacus leniusculus</i>. Freshwater Biology 57(9):1823-1838.
  10. Larson, E. R., M. Castelin, B. W. Williams, J. D. Olden, and C. L. Abbott. 2016. Phylogenetic species delimitation for crayfishes of the genus <i>Pacifastacus</i>.PeerJ 4 (2016): e1915.
  11. Lewis, S.D. and H.F. Horton. 1996. Life history and population dynamics of the signal crayfish, <i>Pacifastacus leniusculus</i>, in Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Freshwater Crayfish 11: 34-53.
  12. Light, T. 2005. Behavioral effects of invaders: alien crayfish and native sculpin in a California stream. Biological Invasions 7: 353-367.
  13. McLaughlin, P. A., D. K. Camp, M. V. Angel, E. L. Bousfield, P. Brunel, R. C. Brusca, D. Cadien, A. C. Cohen, K. Conlan, L. G. Eldredge, D. L. Felder, J. W. Goy, T. Haney, B. Hann, R. W. Heard, E. A. Hendrycks, H. H. Hobbs III, J. R. Holsinger, B. Kensley, D. R. Laubitz, S. E. LeCroy, R. Lemaitre, R. F. Maddocks, J. W. Martin, P. Mikkelsen, E. Nelson, W. A. Newman, R. M. Overstreet, W. J. Poly, W. W. Price, J. W. Reid, A. Robertson, D. C. Rogers, A. Ross, M. Schotte, F. Schram, C. Shih, L. Watling, G. D. F. Wilson, and D. D. Turgeon. 2005. Common and Scientific Names of Aquatic Invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Crustaceans. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 31. 545 pp.
  14. Rogers, D.C. 2005. Identification manual to the freshwater Crustacea of the western United States and adjacent areas encountered during bioassessment. EcoAnalysts, Inc., Technical Publication #1, Moscow, Idaho. 81 pp.
  15. Sonntag, M.M. 2006. Taxonomic standing of the three subspecies of <i>Pacifastacus leniusculus</i>, and their phylogeographic patterns in the Klamath basin area. Bringham Young University, Provo, UT, Master Thesis.
  16. 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(8):371-389.