Abstract

New records of occurrence, spread and habitat characterisation of the Procambarus and Cambarellus genera from the Mexican State of Querétaro are reported. The natural area of distribution of Cambarellus spp. is the westward flowing Lerma-Santiago river system, which drains into the Pacific Ocean; whereas the natural area of distribution of Procambarus spp. is the eastward flowing Moctezuma-Pánuco river system, which drains into the Gulf of México (Atlantic Ocean). Biogeographical data of crayfish from Querétaro suggests that the genus Cambarellus is widely dispersed but the distributional range of the genus Procambarus is very narrow. The genus Procambarus has a restricted range, occurring in a single stream as a relict population. However, the genus Cambarellus is widely distributed in Querétaro and surrounding areas. In addition, many populations of C. montezumae were found in the River Moctezuma Basin. Two species from the genus Cambarellus (C. lermensis and C. montezumae) and one species from the genus Procambarus (P. toltecae) are reported. Furthermore, one population of an unknown species very similar to the known Cambarellus species was detected in El Vegil Dam (Huimilpan). And two populations of uncertain taxonomic position very similar morphologically to the genus Procambarus were found in the Bucareli stream (Pinal de Amoles), Agua Zarca (Landa de Matamoros) and La Saldiveña (Jalpan de Serra). Cambarellus’ species thrive in shallow, lentic systems, whereas Procambarus’ species inhabit well aerated rivers and headwater streams and riffle areas of streams.

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