Orconectes meeki meeki from Big Piney Creek.
News
eDNA helps researchers track and identify endangered and at-risk species
The way eDNA works is organisms create genetic trails from the DNA through cells (skin, fins, feces) they shed within their environments. Scientists can detect the residual DNA through water or soil samples that can reveal species present in the environment.
Scientists seeking rare river crayfish aren’t just kicking rocks
From left: natural resources and environmental sciences professor Eric Larson, graduate research assistant Christopher Rice, and INHS curator of fishes and crustaceans Christopher Taylor used old-school methods and newer techniques to study a rare crayfish. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois News Bureau.
2nd printing of the Field Guide to Crayfishes of the Midwest
INHS has printed a second run of its The Field Guide to Crayfishes of the Midwest due to popular demand! It is available through our website for $15.
New species named after Curator of Crustaceans
Cambarus taylori, named in honor of Dr. Chris Taylor, INHS Curator of Crustaceans.
Spinywrist Crayfish discovered
Say hello to the Spinywrist Crayfish, a new species discovered by Chris Taylor (INHS), Cody Rhoden (INHS), and Guenter Schuster! Its coloration is extremely variable across its geographic range — the lower Tennessee River drainage of south-central Tennessee and northern Alabama. The journal article was published in Zootaxa.
Meet the zebra crayfish, a new species discovered in Alabama
Emeritus EKU Foundation Professor Dr. Guenter Schuster and Illinois Natural History Survey researcher Dr. Chris Taylor have described the Zebra Crayfish, a species newly discovered in Alabama. Read the full story here.
New Field Guide to Crayfishes of the Midwest!
Much to our delight, the Field Guide to Crayfishes of the Midwest arrived today! It is available through our website for only $15.
Biologists discover giant crayfish species right under their noses
It is unusual for aquatic biologists to miss a big species like Barbicambarus simmonsi. The population of this crayfish appears to be very sparse, however. Individuals were usually found under the biggest rocks in the deepest parts of a stream. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois News Bureau.