ATLANTA, Ga., - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finds the spinytail crayfish, a freshwater crayfish endemic to southern Mississippi, is not warranted for listing as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Conservation efforts on public lands help sustain the crayfish’s habitat. More than half of the population lives in De Soto National Forest and Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, where habitat management practices such as roadside mowing, timber cutting and bog restoration support the species.
“We’re pleased to report that drought and land use are not harming the spinytail crayfish population or posing an immediate or long-term threat,” said Service biologist Eli Polzer. “While its limited range makes it vulnerable to disasters, current risks aren’t severe and strong populations are expected to persist now and into the future.”
Native to south Mississippi, the spinytail crayfish is a tiny burrowing crayfish that measures approximately 1.5 inches long. It differs from other crayfish by its shell shape, rough-textured claws and the beak-like projection on its head. This species helps maintain healthy waterways by cycling nutrients and supporting water quality.
The species is only found in a small area of southern Mississippi along the coast between the Wolf River in the west and the Pascagoula River in the east. It inhabits wet pine savannas, pitcher plant bogs, roadside ditches, and shallow seasonal ponds. Biologists have identified 29 populations of this crayfish in Forrest, George, Jackson, Pearl River, Perry and Stone counties.
A notice of this finding is available today for public inspection in the Federal Register at www.federalregister.gov or http://www.regulations.gov/ under docket number FWS–R4–ES–2024–0146.
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The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit https://www.fws.gov/program/southeast-region. Connect with us on social media: Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Flickr, and YouTube.
