A revision of the North American Astaci : with observations on their habits and geographical distribution / by Charles Girard.

  • Girard, Charles, 1822-1895.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A revision of the North American Astaci : with observations on their habits and geographical distribution / by Charles Girard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    4^ A Revisioii of t]i^^-iJ!^k''Ainir.km Astaci, with observations on their habits and geographical distribution. By Charles Girard. [Kromthe Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philada.,May, 1832. ] ^ According to recent investigations,* the crawfishes or Astaci, have been dis- tributed into several genera: thus, the genus Astaciix proper includes all the species of Europe and Asia, and two of Australia; the genus Astacoides is com- posed of two species—one from Madagascar and another from Van Diemen's Land ; the genus Cheraps comprehends three species peculiar to New Holland; the genus Engans embraces two species confined to Van Diemen's Land; and finally, the genus Camhams includes the American species : one from Chili, another from Cuba, two from Mexico and six from the United States. Investigations of a still more recent date,)- the results of which have not yet been given to the scientific world, refer to the genus Astacus a species from the Columbia river, thus giving again that genus to North America. At the request of Dr.Baird, we have examined critically the Astaci preserved at the Smithsonian Institution, collected chiefly by himself. Our researches have made us acquainted with several new species within the limits of the United States, and which we now characterise briefly, deferring to another opportunity more full descriptions, accompanied with necessary graphic illustrations. First group.—Rostrum subquadrangularly elongated, terminated anteriorly by three conical and acute spines, the two lateral smaller than the middle one, which forms the tip. Extremity of the anterior pair of abdominal legs (in the male) straight and acute. 1. Cambarus PELLuciDUs, Erichs. Arch. f. Naturg. 1846, i. 95. Astacus pdlucidus, Tellk. in Miill. Archiv, 1844, 383. Locality.—Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, (Tellkampf, &c.) 2. Cambarus affinis, Erichs. Arch. f. Naturg. 1846, i. 96. Astacus affinis, Say, Journ.Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. i. 1817, 168 and 443.— Harl. ivied, and Phys. Res. 1835, 230, fig. 2. A. £arto7iii, M. Edw. Hist. Nat. Crust, ii. 331. A. limosus, Rafin. Amer. Month. Mag. ii. 1817, 42. Localities.—Schuylkill, at Reading (Baird), Delaware (Say and Rafinesque). 3. Cambarus oregantis, Erichs. Arch. f. Naturg. 1846, i. 375. Astacus oregaitus, Rand. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. viii. 1, 1839, t 138, PI. vii. Locality.—Columbia River (Nuttall). 4. Cambarus Pealei, Girard.—Differs from C. affinis in having longer anten- nae, and a broader area between the dorsal lines of suture of the carapace. The lateral spine of the rostrum are also much less developed. The color is green- ish brown above, with small green dots on the claws, and sometimes on the cephalo-thorax. A green line or narrow band is observed along the outer edge of the big claws, the tips of which, as well as the tips of the other legs, are orange, preceded by a deep green, almost black circle or ring. On each articu- lation of the tail there is a double, irregular and transverse blood-red band, which extends to the lateral appendages of the caudal rings. Underneath, the body is whitish and rusty. Locality.—Potomac, at Washington (D. C.) • Erichson (W. F.) Uebersicht der Gattung Astacus. — Wiegm. Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte, 1846, i. 86. t Proc. Acad. Nat Sc. Philad. vi. 1852, 20. 14