Orconectes is a genus of cave dwelling freshwater crayfish, endemic to suitable habitats in the eastern United States. Surface dwelling species, formerly categorised here, were moved to Faxonius in 2017.
Due to their subterranean habitat, they are usually depigmented, often blind, and are long-lived. Ages of 176 years have been claimed for O. australis, though this was reduced to ≤22 years in a 2012 study.
Taxonomy The genus Orconectes was erected in 1872 by Edward Drinker Cope to house Astacus pellucidus (now Orconectes pellucidus) and his new species, Orconectes inermis.
Prior to the 2017 review by Oxford university, the genus contained 85 species in 11 subgenera. The Faxonius subgenus was raised to a full genus, and the majority of species formerly recorded as Orconectes were moved there. Following the review, approximately 8 species are known:
+Scientific nameAuthorityCommon nameRed List statusType locality O. australis (Rhoades, 1941) southern cave crayfish Shelta Cavern, Madison County, Alabama O. barri Buhay & Crandall, 2008 Cumberland Plateau cave crayfish Tonya's Cave, Wayne County, Kentucky O. incomptus Hobbs & Barr, 1972 Tennessee cave crayfish Cherry Cave, Jackson County, Tennessee O. inermis inermis Cope, 1872 ghost crayfish Wyandotte Caves, Crawford County, Indiana O. inermis testii (Hay, 1891) unarmed crayfish Mayfield's Cave, Monroe County, Indiana O. packardi Rhoades, 1944 Appalachian cave crayfish Cumberland Crystal Cave, Pulaski County, Kentucky O. pellucidus (Tellkampf, 1844) Mammoth Cave crayfish Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky O. sheltae Cooper & Cooper, 1997 Shelta cave crayfish Shelta Cave, Madison County, Alabama O. stygocaneyi Hobbs, 2001 Caney Mountain cave crayfish Mud Cave, Caney Mountain Conservation Area, Ozark County, Missouri
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