I found these yesterday while caving in northern Alabama. I have previously found pale or minimally pigmented crayfish, but these are the first I have ever seen which are true cave dwellers with no pigment or eyes.
These crays would not ever be suitable for the home aquarium because they are very rare and it would be nearly impossible to recreate their habitat and still be able to enjoy seeing them.
It is best just to capture them with a few photos and leave them in their subterranean home.
I saw several of these during the day. I didn't remove the one in the top photo from the water so I do not know if it was male or female. The one shown in my hand was a male.
At the end of the day when we were closer to the surface where a stream entered the cave, I did see a couple very large crayfish that were not true cave dwellers. I didn't take any photos of them, but they were obviously more standard crays that would normally be found in above ground streams.
I could have stayed and watched them all day. . . . .
No, this species is not listed as threatened or endangered and thus has no legal protection. Only 4 species of crayfish are listed as endangered in the U.S. (two of them are cave species), and no species are currently listed as threatened.
It is a sad fact that invertebrates rarely received the kind of protection given to other animals when comes to the endangered/threatened species lists. In general, if an animal does not have fur, feathers, or scales it won't be offered legal protection.
Although Orconectes australis australis is not protected by the state or federal government, it is protected in the cave I visited which is owned by a non-profit caving conservation organization.
Although Orconectes australis australis is not protected by the state or federal government, it is protected in the cave I visited which is owned by a non-profit caving conservation organization.
You might want to check with your local environmental agency. Most states have cave preservation laws that extend to the animals and plants that live in the caves. The species may not be protected, but by virtue of their habitat they may be.
badflash, you are right. I knew of the federal cave protection act, but just did some research and found that Alabama extends protection to ALL wild caves, not just those on state and federal land.
Removing one of these crayfish or any other living critter from the cave would be illegal.
Last edited by YuccaPatrol on Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Wow that is realy a different crayfish.How come you think they would be hard to keep Yucca? The only problem that seams obvius to me would maybe be sensitivity to high temperatures .
I just think it would be difficult to match the water quality of the cave streams which have a very high mineral content (especially high in calcium) with very little organic material in it.
Wow, those guys are sooo pale 
Thanks for sharing with us.
