Faxonius limosus
System : Freshwater
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Arthropoda
Malacostraca
Decapoda
Cambaridae
  • Not Evaluated
    NE
  • No Alien Population
    NA
  • Data Deficient
    DD
  • Minimal Concern
    MC
  • Minor
    MN
  • Moderate
    MO
  • Major
    MR
  • Massive
    MV
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
Common name
Spiny-cheek Crayfish (English)
Synonym
Cambarus pealei ,Girard, 1852
Astacus affinis ,Say, 1817
Orconectes limosus ,(Rafinesque, 1817)
Astacus limosus ,Rafinesque, 1817
Similar species
Summary
Spiny-cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus) was intentionally introduced to Europe from the USA; the primary introduction was to Germany in 1890 and secondary introductions were made to Poland and France. It has now spread to over 20 countries in Europe. The reason for introduction was to replace the economically important noble crayfish, Astacus astacus, whose populations had dwindled to crayfish plague. However, spiny-cheek crayfish also acts as a vector for the plague. It has spread naturally through water courses. Other pathways of spread include due to its use as bait and fish food, and accidental introductions as a hitchhiker on crayfish nets.
Pathway

Principal source:

Compiler: Shyama Pagad (IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group)

Review:

Publication date:

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2025) Species profile: Faxonius limosus. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1962 on 28-03-2025.

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Faxonius limosus
NATIVE RANGE
  • canada
  • united states
Informations on Faxonius limosus has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Faxonius limosus in information
Status
Invasiveness
Arrival date
Occurrence
Source
Introduction
Species notes for this location
Location note
Management notes for this location
Impact
Mechanism:
Outcome:
Ecosystem services:
Impact information
Red List assessed species 4: EN = 1; VU = 1; DD = 1; LC = 1;
View more species View less species
Locations
GERMANY
Mechanism
[1] Competition
[1] Predation
[1] Disease transmission
Outcomes
[2] Environmental Ecosystem - Habitat
  • [2] Reduction in native biodiversity
[1] Environmental Species - Population
  • [1] Plant/animal health
Management information
Bibliography
33 references found for Faxonius limosus

Management information
Bonelli M., Manenti R., Scaccini D. (2017) Mountain protected areas as refuges for threatened freshwater species: the detrimental effect of the direct introduction of alien species. Eco Mont - Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research 9, 23-29.
Ďuriš Z., Horká I., Kristian J., Kozák P. (2006) SOME CASES OF MACRO-EPIBIOSIS ON THE INVASIVE CRAYFISH ORCONECTES LIMOSUS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. Bull. Fr. Pêche Piscic. 380-381, 1325-1337.
Hirsch, Philipp & Fischer, Philipp. (2008). Interactions between native juvenile burbot(Lota lota) and the invasive spinycheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) in a large European lake. Publ. in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65 (2008), 12, pp. 2636-2643. 65. 10.1139/F08-162.
Kozubíková-Balcarová E., Beran L., Ďuriš Z., Fischer D., Horká I., Svobodová J., Petrusek A. (2014) Status and recovery of indigenous crayfish populations after recent crayfish plague outbreaks in the Czech Republic. Ethology, Ecology & Evolution 26, 299-319.
Lele S.-F.& Pârvulescu L. (2017) Experimental evidence of the successful invader Orconectes limosus outcompeting the native Astacus leptodactylus in acquiring shelter and food. Biologia 72, 877-885.
Pacioglu, O., Theissinger, K., Alexa, A. et al. Multifaceted implications of the competition between native and invasive crayfish: a glimmer of hope for the native’s long-term survival. Biol Invasions 22, 827–842 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02136-0
Pârvulescu L., Schrimpf A., Kozubíková E., Cabanillas Resino S., Vrålstad T., Petrusek A., Schulz R. (2012) Invasive crayfish and crayfish plague on the move: first detection of the plague agent Aphanomyces astaci in the Romanian Danube. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 17, 85-94.
Šidagytė-Copilas, Eglė & Razlutskij, Vladimir & Alekhnovich, Anatolij & Rybakovas, Aleksandras & Moroz, Mikhail & Šniaukštaitė, Viktė & Vaitonis, Gintautas & Arbačiauskas, Kęstutis. (2017). Predatory diet and potential effects of Orconectes limosus on river macroinvertebrate assemblages of the southeastern Baltic Sea basin: implications for ecological assessment. Aquatic Invasions. 12. 523-540. 10.3391/ai.2017.12.4.09.
General information
Alekhnovich, A. V.; Ablov, S. E.; Kulesh, V. F.; Pareiko, O. A. The American spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus in the fauna of Belarus. In: Gherardi F, Holdich DM (eds), Crayfish in Europe as alien species. How to make the best of a bad situation? AA Balkema, Rotterdam, Brookfield. pp 237-242
Aluma, Michael & Pukk, Lilian & Hurt, Margo & Kaldre, Katrin. (2023). Distribution of Non-Indigenous Crayfish Species in Estonia and Their Impacts on Noble Crayfish (Astacus astacus L.) Populations. Diversity. 15. 474. 10.3390/d15040474.
Boucher, N., A. Elgin, 2024, Faxonius limosus: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatlakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species_ID=3658&Potential=Y&Type=2
Brink, F. W. B. Van Den.; Velde, G Van Der.; Geelen J. F. M. (1988) Life history parameters and temperature-related activity of an American crayfish, Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1917) (Crustacea, Decapoda), in the area of the major rivers in The Netherlands. Archives of Hydrobiology 114(2)
Burba, A. (2008). Orconectes limosus found along the Lithuanian Coastal zone of the Baltic Sea. Crayfish NEWS, IAA Newsletter 30(2): 6-7.
DUBOIS J-P., GILLET C., LAURENT P.J., 1999. Alien crayfish in Lake Geneva. Freshwater Crayfish, 12, 801-810.
Francesca Pilotto, Gary Free, Giuseppe Crosa, Fabrizio Sena, Michela Ghiani, Ana Cristina Cardoso, The Invasive Crayfish Orconectes Limosus in Lake Varese: Estimating Abundance and Population Size Structure in the Context of Habitat and Methodological Constraints, Journal of Crustacean Biology, Volume 28, Issue 4, 1 October 2008, Pages 633–640, https://doi.org/10.1651/07-2967.1
Integrated Taxonomic Information System Faxonius limosus
Kozubíková E., Petrusek A., Ďuriš Z., Kozák P., Geiger S., Hoffmann R., Oidtmann B. (2006) THE CRAYFISH PLAGUE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC - REVIEW OF RECENT SUSPECT CASES AND A PILOT DETECTION STUDY. Bull. Fr. Pêche Piscic. 380-381, 1313-1323.
Kozubíková E., Petrusek A., Ďuriš Z., Martín M.P., et al. (2008) The old menace is back: Recent crayfish plague outbreaks in the Czech Republic. Aquaculture 274, 208-217.
Madzivanzira, T. C., South, J., Wood, L. E., Nunes, A. L., & Weyl, O. L. F. (2020). A review of freshwater crayfish introductions in Africa. Reviews in Fisheries Science and Aquaculture, 29(2), 218-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2020.1802405
Pavlović, Slađan & Milošević, Slaviša & Borković, Slavica & Simić, V. & Paunović, Momir & Žikić, R. & Saičić, Zorica. (2006). A Report of Orconectes (Faxonius) Limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) [Crustacea: Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae: Orconectes: Subgenus Faxonius] in the Serbian Part of the River Danube. Biotechnology and Biotechnological Equipment. 20. 53-56. 10.1080/13102818.2006.10817304.
Schulz R., & Śmietana P. (2001) Occurrence of native and introduced crayfish in Northeastern Germany and Northwestern Poland. Bull. Fr. Pêche Piscic. 361, 629 - 641.
Todorov, Milcho & Trichkova, Teodora & Hubenov, Zdravko & Jurajda, Pavel. (2020). Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) (Decapoda: Cambaridae), a New Invasive Alien Species of European Union Concern in Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica. 72. 113-121.
Aklehnovich, Anatoly & Razlutskij, Vladimir. (2013). Distribution and spread of spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) in Belarus. BioInvasions Records. 2. 221-225. 10.3391/bir.2013.2.3.08.
Continental-wide distribution of crayfish species in Europe: update and maps. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, (413), 05.
Endrizzi S., Bruno M.C., Maiolini B. (2013) Distribution and morphometry of native and alien crayfish in Trentino (Italy). Journal of Limnology 72, 343-360.
Hesse A.-S., Mangot S. (2015) History of the propagation of Orconectes limosus in rivers of the Centre-Val de Loire region (France). Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France 140, 25-44.
Kaldre, Katrin & Paaver, Tiit & Hurt, Margo & Gross, Riho. (2020). Continuing expansion of non-indigenous crayfish species in Northern Europe: first established spiny-cheek crayfish Faxonius limosus (Refinesque, 1817) population in Estonia. BioInvasions Records. 9. 127-132.
Karaman I, Machino Y (2004) Occurrence of the spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) and the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in Serbia. Crayfish NEWS – International Association of Astacology Newsletter 26(2): 11, 19-20
Maguire, I., Klobučar, G., Žganec, K., Jelić, M., Lucić, A., & Hudina, S. (2018). Recent changes in distribution pattern of freshwater crayfish in Croatia− threats and perspectives. Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, (419), 2.
Petrusek, Adam & Havlíčková Filipová, Lenka & Duris, Zdenek & Kočárková, Ivona & Kozák, P. & Policar, Tomas & Štambergová, M. & Kučera, Z.. (2006). Distribution of the invasive spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) in the Czech Republic. Past and present. Bulletin Français de la Pêche et de la Pisciculture. 380-381. 903-917. 10.1051/kmae:2006030.
Pöckl M. (1999). Distribution of crayfish species in Austria with special reference to introduced species. Freshwater Crayfish 12(1):733-750.
Puky, Miklós & Schád, Péter. (2006). Orconectes limosus colonises new areas fast along the Danube in Hungary. Bulletin Francais De La Peche Et De La Pisciculture - BULL FR PECHE PISCIC. 380–381. 380-381. 10.1051/kmae:2006031.
Zorić, Katarina & Atanacković, Ana & Ilić, Marija & Csányi, Béla & Paunović, Momir. (2020). The Spiny-cheek Crayfish Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) (Decapoda: Cambaridae) Invades New Areas in Serbian Inland Waters. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica. 72. 623-627.
Contact
The following 0 contacts offer information an advice on Faxonius limosus
MR
Faxonius limosus
Spiny-cheek Crayfish
Date assessed
2020-08-12
Year published
2020
Eicat category
MR (Major)
Justification for EICAT assessment


In Romania, Poland and Croatia, F. limosus was reported to displace native European crayfish species (Pontastacus leptodactylus, Astacus astacus and P. leptodactylus respectively) that led to their disappearance at multiple sites, hence, MR is assigned. Moreover, in the Czech Republic, outbreaks caused by crayfish plague pathogen, Aphanomyces astaci strain transmitted by F. limosus led to local extinction of populations of three native crayfish species, A. astacus, Austropotamobius torrentium and Pontastacus leptodactylus. Transmission of A. astaci by F. limosus was also reported to be responsible for local extinction of A. torrentium and A. pallipes populations in Italy. Since the changes are reversible after removal of F. limosus from the invaded sites, the MR category was assigned.
Confidence rating
High
Mechanism(s) of maximum impact
Competition; Transmission of disease; Transmission of desease
Countries of most severe impact
Romania; Croatia; Poland; Italy; Czech Republic
Description of impacts
F. limosus is of concern due to a) its competition with native crayfish species that may lead to disappearance of native crayfish species at invaded sites, b) transmission of the crayfish plague pathogen A. astaci that often leads to crayfish plague outbreaks in populations of infected European crayfish species (and other crayfish species that do not originate from North America), c) potential transmission of fish louse to fish species, and d) predation on benthic macro-invertebrates.
Assessor
Bram Koese; Agata Mrugala
Contributors
Reviewers
Ana Nunes
Recommended citation
Bram Koese, Agata Mrugala (2025). Faxonius limosus. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).