Barbicambarus simmonsi
Barbicambarus simmonsi is a species of giant crayfish discovered in southern Tennessee in 2010.[2][3] The discovery was announced in January 2011.[3]
| Barbicambarus simmonsi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Family: | Cambaridae |
| Genus: | Barbicambarus |
| Species: | B. simmonsi |
| Binomial name | |
| Barbicambarus simmonsi (Taylor & Schuster, 2010) | |
The animal was discovered in Shoal Creek, a stream in southern Tennessee that ultimately drains into the Tennessee River.[4] The first specimen was discovered by and named for Tennessee Valley Authority scientist Jeffrey Simmons in 2010.[2] University of Illinois aquatic biologist Christopher A. Taylor and Guenter A. Schuster of Eastern Kentucky University found a second specimen and authored the paper announcing the discovery of the new species.[2][3] The creek has been studied for half a century, so this species is believed to be rare.[5] Taylor further suggests that discovery of such a large species there now indicates that more money should be spent on research inside the United States.[3]
References
- "Barbicambarus simmonsi". NatureServe. 7.1. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- "New Giant Crayfish Found Under Tenn. Rock". Discovery News. January 20, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- Maggie Fox (January 19, 2011). Eric Walsh (ed.). "Giant crayfish found in Tennessee is new species". Yahoo! News. Reuters. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- Diana Yates (January 19, 2011). "Biologists discover giant crayfish species right under their noses". University of Illinois. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- Michael Marshall (January 19, 2011). "Whopping crayfish species stayed hidden for decades". Short Sharp Science. New Scientist.
Further reading
- Christopher A. Taylor & Guenter A. Schuster (2010). "Monotypic no more, a description of a new crayfish of the genus Barbicambarus Hobbs, 1969 (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from the Tennessee River drainage using morphology and molecules". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 123 (4): 324–334. doi:10.2988/10-15.1. S2CID 85859723.