Two crayfish species once grouped with the Signal Crayfish have now been formally described: the Misfortunate Crayfish (Pacifastacus malheurensis) in Oregon and the Okanagan Crayfish (Pacifastacus okanaganensis) in British Columbia and Washington. The 2025 study identified them through genetic and morphological evidence. “New” means newly recognized and described by science—not newly evolved. Both species face risks from invasive crayfish.
What the 2025 study found
The paper “Genome skimming supports two new crayfish species from the genus Pacifastacus Bott, 1950 (Decapoda: Astacidae)” was published in Zootaxa on May 8, 2025. It describes two distinct lineages that had been included within the Signal Crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus. The discovery reflects a long-running taxonomic investigation: crayfish that seemed unusual in the field were studied with more detailed genetic methods and morphological comparisons.
The University of Illinois account says more than 600 crayfish species have been described globally, quoting study co-author Eric Larson in 2025. That figure is Larson’s contextual statement, not a count produced by this species-description paper. University of Illinois ACES
Where the newly described crayfish live
| Species | Reported range | Conservation concern identified |
|---|---|---|
| Misfortunate Crayfish (Pacifastacus malheurensis) | Central and eastern Oregon, United States | The paper particularly identifies the spread of Rusty Crayfish as a threat in central Oregon. |
| Okanagan Crayfish (Pacifastacus okanaganensis) | South-central British Columbia, Canada, and north-central Washington, United States | The paper says it faces conservation risks from displacement by non-native invasive crayfish; it does not provide a population estimate. |
The study does not establish a relative population size or overall extinction-risk ranking between the two species, so their ranges and threats should not be read as a comparative ranking.
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How researchers distinguished the species
Genome skimming allowed the team to analyze mitochondrial genomes alongside highly repetitive nuclear markers: 18S, 28S, and H3. The study reports that mitochondrial phylogenies supported the lineages as species, while trees based on the nuclear markers returned comparable topologies. The researchers also analyzed morphological characters that could help distinguish the crayfish.
- Mitochondrial evidence: Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial genomes supported the lineages as distinct species.
- Nuclear evidence: Analyses of 18S, 28S, and H3 produced comparable tree topologies.
- Morphology: Physical characteristics were examined as another way to identify distinguishing traits.
The case rests on converging evidence, not a visual impression alone or a single DNA test. These crayfish were not newly evolved; their formal descriptions recognize diversity that had previously been classified within the Signal Crayfish. The Zootaxa paper
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Why the discovery matters for conservation
Both species face risks from displacement by non-native invasive crayfish. The paper particularly points to the rapidly spreading Rusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) as a threat to the Misfortunate Crayfish in central Oregon. The University of Illinois account also names Virile Crayfish and describes human movement of crayfish as a way non-native animals can reach new waters.
The reviewed reports do not give population counts, measured declines, or extinction probabilities for either newly described species. The conservation concern is about the threat of invasive crayfish displacement, not a quantified estimate of how many animals remain.
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How pet owners and anglers can avoid spreading crayfish
Moving live crayfish between waterways can introduce non-native animals. Aquarium dumping and classroom releases can also put crayfish into habitats where they do not belong. The practical takeaway for people who keep or catch crayfish is straightforward:
- Do not release aquarium crayfish into ponds, streams, lakes, or other waterways.
- Do not move live crayfish, including bait, from one water body to another.
- Follow local rules for handling and disposing of live bait and aquarium animals.
As Larson put it in the University of Illinois account, “There are unexpected consequences when we move crayfish from one place to another.” The same account quotes him saying invasive crayfish “can’t easily be removed” and can replace newly described species as they spread. University of Illinois ACES
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