Barbicambarus simmonsi

Barbicambarus simmonsi is a species of giant crayfish discovered in southern Tennessee in 2010.^[1][2] The discovery was announced in January 2011.^[2]

The animal was discovered in Shoal Creek, a stream in southern Tennessee that ultimately drains into the Tennessee River.^[3] The first specimen was discovered by and named for Tennessee Valley Authority scientist Jeffrey Simmons in 2010.^[1] 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.^[1][2] The creek has been studied for half a century, so this species is believed to be rare.^[4] 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.^[2]

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. 

References