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https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5566.3.4
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E7984AE6-EE79-49A1-BA1D-E138FE7E510B
522 Accepted by S. Ahyong: 23 Nov. 2024; published: 9 Jan. 2025
Article ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Zootaxa 5566 (3): 522–534
https://www.mapress.com/zt/
Copyright © 2025 Magnolia Press
Cherax pulverulentus, a new freshwater crayfish (Decapoda: Parastacidae) from
Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia
JIŘÍ PATOKA1,2*, SURYA GENTHA AKMAL3, MARTIN BLÁHA4 & ANTONÍN KOUBA4
1Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague,
Kamýcká 129, Prague—Suchdol 165 00, Czech Republic.
�
patoka@af.czu.cz; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2797-0563
2Department of Preschool & Primary Education, Faculty of Education, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem,
Pasteurova 1, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
3IPB University, The Institute for Research and Community Service, Centre for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies, Bogor 166 80,
Indonesia.
�
sgakmal@apps.ipb.ac.id; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6101-8894
4Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses,
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, Vodňany 389 25, Czech Republic.
�
blaha@frov.jcu.cz; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3597-6604
�
akouba@frov.jcu.cz; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8118-8612
*Corresponding author.
Abstract
Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov. is a moderately-sized burrowing freshwater crayfish endemic to the streams west of the
Ayamaru Lake in Bird's Head Peninsula (Framu Subdistrict, Southwest Papua Province), the Indonesian part of New
Guinea. Although this species has been exploited in the ornamental aquarium trade at least for 21 years, it has not been
formally named until now. Its commonly used commercial names in the pet trade are: “Hoa Creek”, “Irian Jaya”, or “Blue
Moon” crayfish, but these names are also used for other more bluish or pinkish species of Cherax. Cherax pulverulentus
sp. nov. is genetically and morphologically most similar to Cherax pulcher Lukhaup, 2015, but both species may be
distinguished by several morphological characteristics and DNA sequence divergence, which support C. pulverulentus
sp. nov. as a valid species.
Key words: Cherax, Parastacidae, New Guinea, taxonomy, morphology, phylogeny, pet trade, freshwater
Introduction
The freshwater crayfish of the genus Cherax are frequently exploited for ornamental purposes (Patoka et al. 2015b;
Chucholl & Wendler 2017; Weiperth et al. 2020; Yuliana et al. 2021; Bláha et al. 2022). New Guinea island is
perceived as an enigmatic hotspot of crayfish diversity (Patoka 2020; Yonvitner et al. 2020). The New Guinean
species of Cherax are popular in ornamental aquaculture due to their attractive coloration (Patoka et al. 2014; Faulkes
2015). These crayfish are captured in the field and subsequently exported by Indonesian wholesalers to pet markets,
especially in Europe, the USA, and Japan, but also local markets in Indonesia (Chucholl 2013a; Faulkes 2015;
Yuliana et al. 2021; Bláha et al. 2022). Shoulder to shoulder with Cherax albertisii (Nobili, 1899), the new species
was the first freshwater crayfish from New Guinea exported to Europe as an ornamental (around 2003; Patoka J.
unpublished 2003; Patoka 2008; Patoka et al. 2014). Thus, it has been exploited for the aforementioned purpose for
over two decades, even if advertised under the misnomer C. lorentzi in many cases (Chucholl 2013b; Patoka et al.
2015b). Since certain traded species of Cherax from the Indonesian part of New Guinea (especially Southwest Papua
Province) are formally undescribed and relevant authorities do not systematically register captured quantities, the
potential abundance decline following the intensive capture can be easily overlooked and underestimated. Various
pet-traded crayfish species native to Indonesian New Guinea were described in the previous decade, such as C.
gherardii Patoka, Bláha & Kouba, 2015a, C. pulcher Lukhaup, 2015, C. snowden Lukhaup, Panteleit & Schrimpf,
NEW CHERAX INDONESIA Zootaxa 5566 (3) © 2025 Magnolia Press · 523
2015, C. warsamsonicus Lukhaup, Eprilurahman & von Rintelen, 2017, C. alyciae Lukhaup, Eprilurahman & von
Rintelen, 2018, C. mosessalossa Lukhaup, Eprilurahman & von Rintelen, 2018, C. wagenknechtae Lukhaup &
Eprilurahman, 2022, and C. woworae Patoka, Akmal, Bláha & Kouba, 2023. Moreover, also the first cave crayfish
of non-North American origin, C. acherontis Patoka, Bláha & Kouba, 2017, was found to be endemic in New
Guinea. The new species of New Guinean Cherax presented in this study has been commonly traded under the
commercial name “Hoa Creek”, “Irian Jaya” or “Blue Moon” crayfish, which is not species-specific. Formal
scientific descriptions of new species are crucial for the proper management of pet-traded crayfish in their native
range. The new species (identified by Jiří Patoka and Martin Bláha as Cherax cf. pulcher) was previously recorded
at a thermal spring in Miskolctapolca, Hungary, as a probable consequence of aquarium dumping (Bláha et al.
2022); it is formally described herein.
Materials and methods
Type material is deposited in the crustacean collection, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Java, Indonesia (MZB). All
specimen measurements were made with digital calipers to the nearest millimetre (mm). The following abbreviation
is used below: CL (carapace length, measured along the midline from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of
the cephalothorax).
Specimen and tissue collection. Obtained crayfish were field captured for ornamental purposes in Southwest
Papua Province, Indonesia, transported by a collector in Sorong, by a trader from Sorong to Jakarta, and consequently
imported in a shipment with other species of Cherax and ornamental fishes to the Czech Republic in March 2023.
We acquired six adult individuals (three males and three females) from one of the leading Czech wholesalers
for ornamental aquatic animals, including crayfish (permission No.: E/E/47.0/20230129/000146; certificate No.:
P8/K1-D1/47.0/I/2023/000142). This was the identical shipment in which type individuals of C. woworae were
previously found (Patoka et al. 2023). All individuals were photographed and kept alive separately in indoor aquaria
until haemolymph and pleonal muscle were sampled for DNA analysis. After this procedure, the specimens were
preserved in pure ethanol. One male was designated as the holotype, one female as an allotype, and the other
individuals as paratypes.
DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing. DNA was extracted using the NucleoSpin® Tissue kit
(Macherey-Nagel GmbH & Co. KG. Düren, Germany) following the manufacturer’s protocol. Two molecular
markers were amplified, namely cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rRNA. Primers and PCR protocols
were the same as in Bláha et al. (2016). For sequencing, the PCR products were run on an electrophoresis agarose
gel, and the relevant bands were excised and purified using the Nucleospin® Gel and PCR Clean-up kit (Macherey-
Nagel). Purified products were subsequently sequenced on an ABI automatic capillary sequencer (series 373;
Macrogen Inc., Korea).
Genetic data analysis. Nucleotide sequences were aligned using MAFFT v7.017 (Katoh et al. 2002) implemented
in GENEIOUS 8.0.5 (www.geneious.com; Kearse et al. 2012). Further, the alignment of COI sequences was checked
by translating them into amino acids. For the concatenated dataset, partial gene fragments were downloaded from
the available sequences of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI; Table 1). The sequence
divergences were estimated in PAUP v. 4.0 (Swofford & Sullivan 2003) using the model-corrected distance settings
with TrN+I+G and HKY + I model of evolution chosen by BIC (Bayesian information criterion) estimated in
jModelTest 2.1.7 (Darriba et al. 2012) for COI and 16S alignments, respectively. A maximum likelihood (ML) tree
was constructed in PHYML (Guindon & Gascuel 2003) implemented in GENEIOUS 8.0.5 (Kearse et al. 2012),
while Bayesian analyses was conducted in Mr.Bayes 3.2.4. (Ronquist et al. 2012).
Systematics
Parastacidae Huxley, 1879
Remarks. The family Parastacidae Huxley, 1879 contains ca. 200 valid crayfish species, all native to the Southern
Hemisphere (Crandall & De Grave 2017). Australia is perceived as the main centre of diversity of parastacids with
PATOKA ET AL.
524 · Zootaxa 5566 (3) © 2025 Magnolia Press
the island of New Guinea considered as an enigmatic hotspot with expected numerous formally undescribed species
(Bláha et al. 2016; Yonvitner et al. 2020). All New Guinean crayfish belong to the genus Cherax and are usually
classified as moderately burrowing animals even if there are exceptions, such as cave crayfish, Cherax acherontis
(Patoka et al. 2017; Patoka 2020). Currently, 28 species of freshwater crayfish are known to be native to New
Guinea (Patoka et al. 2023), most of which are narrow-range endemics (typically one known stream or lake).
TABLE 1. Species used in the analysis with GenBank accession numbers.
GenBank accession numbers
Species COI 16S
C. alyciae MH457598 MH457589
MH457599 MH457590
C. boesemani KY654084 KY654089
KY654085 KY654090
C. gherardii KU821417 KU821432
KU821418
C. holthuisi KU821419 KU821433
C. mosessalossa MH457602 MH457594
MH457603 MH457595
C. pulcher KY654083 KY654091
C. peknyi MH457600 MH457591
MH457601 MH457592
C. subterigneus KT387669 KT387672
KY654082 KY654087
C. wagenknechtae OP711702 OP737872
OP711703 OP737873
C. warsamsonicus KY654086 KY654088
C. woworae OQ476074 OQ474906
OQ476075 OQ474905
C. pulverulentus sp. nov. PP751626 PP751802
PP751627 PP751803
OL806576 OL828274
OL806577 OL828272
OL790139 OL780440
Euastacus yarraensis NC023811 NC023811
E. armatus NC026575 NC026575
Cherax Erichson, 1846
Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–3, 6)
Cherax cf. pulcher.—Bláha et al. 2022: 5, tab. 1, fig. 2.
Cherax lorentzi.—Patoka et al. 2014: tab. 2.
Type material. All from tributary streams to the Ayamaru Lake, Framu Subdistrict, Ayamaru District, Maybrat
Regency, Southwest Papua Province, Bird's Head Peninsula, Indonesian New Guinea; collected by an anonymous
Indonesian supplier. All specimens are adults.
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Holotype: MZB Cru5782, ♂. Allotype: MZB Cru5783, ♀. Paratypes: MZB Cru5784, two ♂ (paratypes 2 and
4), two ♀ (paratypes 1 and 3).
Diagnosis. Carapace surface smooth except for 1–4 small spiniform tubercles posteriorly behind cervical
groove on lateral sides of carapace. Eyes large, globular, and darkly pigmented, cornea slightly broader than
eyestalk. Rostrum slender, 2.0–2.3 (x = 2.2, SD = 0.1) times as long as wide, with slightly excavated margins; rostral
margins carinate and with 3 prominent teeth. Postorbital ridges prominent with acute tubercle at anterior terminus.
Median carina absent. Scaphocerite triangular, regularly narrowing towards apex, with single distinct spine at
terminus. Antennular peduncle slightly reaching behind acumen. Antennal peduncle reaching slightly behind apex
of scaphocerite. Areola 1.9–2.4 (x = 2.0, SD = 0.3) times as long as wide at narrowest part. Laterally just behind
cervical groove with 3 or 4 prominent anteriorly oriented spines present. Carapace 2.2–2.5 (x = 2.3, SD = 0.1) times
long as wide, and 1.1–1.5 (x = 1.4, SD = 0.1) times longer than chela. Chela 1.9–2.3 (x = 2.1, SD = 0.1) times as
long as broad, and 3.9–5.0 (x = 4.3, SD = 0.4) times height. Chelae of adult males with whitish uncalcified patch
on lateral margin, extending from middle of palm, slightly behind base of fixed finger (propodus). Dactylar cutting
edge with row of small granules and one large tubercle. Fingers with hooked tips.
FIGURE 1. Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov., holotype, adult male, MZB Cru5782, CL = 49 mm.
Description of holotype male. (Figs. 1–2). Adult. Body and eyes pigmented. Body subcylindrical, slightly
compressed laterally. Cephalothorax 1.1 times broader than pleon; surface smooth, densely pitted, with set of 3
anteriorly oriented small spiniform tubercles laterally just posteriorly to 3 cervical groove at level of antennae and
below (both sides; Fig. 2a). Areola 1.9 times as long as broad at the narrowest part (Fig. 2d). Length of areola 31%
of CL; surface smooth, pitted. Cervical groove distinct, non-setose.
Rostrum (Fig. 2a, d) prominent, relatively slender, lanceolate in shape, 2.3 times as long as wide. Acumen
with directly oriented spine at terminus. Median carina absent. Rostral margins elevated, anteriorly convergent
throughout length to acumen, posteriorly continuing in rostral carinae on carapace. Lateral margins with 3 slightly
upturned prominent teeth in distal half. Upper surface smooth, pitted, without setae, short sparse setae on outer
rostral margins and on ventral side of rostrum. Rostral carinae prominent, extending as slight elevation posteriorly on
carapace, gradually fading and indistinct behind middle of cephalothorax. Postorbital ridges (Fig. 2a, d) prominent,
strongly elevated and gradually fading. Anterior terminus of postorbital ridges with slightly upturned spiniform
tubercle. Eyes (Fig. 2a, d) relatively large; cornea globular, darkly pigmented, about as long as eyestalk and slightly
broader.
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Antennules and antennae normal in shape; antennae with cut-off terminal parts, longer than TL in living
individuals. Antennular peduncle slightly reaching behind acumen, antennal peduncle reaching slightly behind apex
of scaphocerite. Coxicerite of antennal peduncle with spiniform tubercle anteriorly; basicerite with 1 lateral and
1 ventral spiniform and hooked tubercle. Scaphocerite (Fig. 2g) horizontal, triangular, with lamina 2.8 times as
long as wide, broadest at midlength; reaching slightly behind end of antennular peduncle and acumen; regularly
narrowing into apex; thickened outer lateral margin with prominent spiniform tubercle at apex reaching distinctly
beyond lamina; inner margin strongly covered by dense setae.
FIGURE 2. Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov.: a–d, f, g from holotype ♂, MZB Cru5782; e, h from allotype ♀, MZB Cru5783; (a)
lateral view of carapace; (b) ventral view of right male chela; (c) dorsal view of right male chela; (d) dorsal view of carapace;
(e) sternal keel ventral view of right chela; (f) epistome; (g) dorsal view of right scaphocerite; (h) dorsal view of right female
chela. Scale bars = 1 cm.
NEW CHERAX INDONESIA Zootaxa 5566 (3) © 2025 Magnolia Press · 527
FIGURE 3. (a) Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov., allotype, adult female, MZB Cru5783, CL = 41 mm; (b) C. pulverulentus sp.
nov., paratype 4 (purple form), adult male, MZB Cru5784, CL = 37 mm.
PATOKA ET AL.
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FIGURE 4. Western part of New Guinea, and the locality of Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov. in the Bird’s Head Peninsula,
Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia indicated by the red dot.
Mouthparts typical. Epistome (Fig. 2f) broadly triangular, anteriorly with rounded lobe (projection) constricted
at base and with setose margins; each lateral margin covered with 2 groups of small tubercles separated by smooth
place; central part smooth with distinct fovea, not pitted; epistomial zygoma prominent and thick, moderately arched
with oblique arms.
Male chelipeds (Fig. 2b, c) subequal in form and size. Chelae 2.2 times as long as wide and 4.3 times as long
as height, strongly compressed; chela surface smooth; palm 1.5 times longer than fingers; carapace 1.3 times longer
than chela; with gap between each finger when closed and with hooked tips; dactyl broad at base, regularly tapering
towards tip, ventral and dorsal surface of dactyl with scattered punctuation; fixed finger hooked, merging gradually
into palm of chela; fixed finger 1.6 times broader than dactyl at base. Outer lateral margin of chelae with swollen
soft and uncalcified patch extending from middle of palm slightly behind base of fixed finger; surface of uncalcified
patch slightly pitted; entire inner lateral margin of palm covered with slender row of more than 10 bluntly topped
teeth. Dactylar cutting edge with small granular teeth, and with large prominent tooth approximately in middle of
cutting edge; sparsely setose on ventral surface near base. Dactylar tip with acute, hooked spine pointing outwards
at angle of approximately 45°. Propodal cutting edge with numerous small granular teeth scattered throughout
entire length of fixed finger; single large tooth present in middle length of cutting edge; wide fovea in basal half of
fixed finger on ventral surface; fovea setose. Propodal tip with hooked spine. Propodal and dactylar tips crossing
when fingers clasp. Carpus smooth, pitted; with well-developed acute and hooked spiniform tubercle in middle of
dorsolateral inner margin (mentioned tubercle is characteristic for genus Cherax); terminating with almost directly
oriented spiniform tubercle; inner lateral carpal surface covered with tiny setae; ventral surface with fovea; margins
slightly elevated; inner margin with set of 6 small granules and acute spiniform tubercle oriented almost directly;
NEW CHERAX INDONESIA Zootaxa 5566 (3) © 2025 Magnolia Press · 529
outer margin with spiniform tubercle oriented directly. Merus laterally strongly depressed in basal part; surface
smooth, pitted; single directly oriented spiniform tubercle present on dorsal surface; 2 directly oriented spiniform
tubercles on ventral surface; ridge of small granules on entire inner ventrolateral margin, terminating with single
almost directly oriented spiniform tubercle; chela about 1.8 times longer than merus. Ischium laterally strongly
depressed, surface smooth and pitted, with 1 prominent and set of small spiniform tubercles on ventral margin.
FIGURE 5. Bayesian analysis consensus phylogram of selected species of Cherax based on combined COI and 16S dataset.
Posterior probabilities and ML bootstrap values are displayed next to each node. The scale bar indicates the substitution rate.
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FIGURE 6. Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov. (adult male) of blue form captured at a thermal spring in Hungary (after Bláha et
al. 2022).
Second pereiopod reaching behind apex of scaphocerite when extended. Palm as long as fingers, both sparsely
setose; tips of fingers hooked. Carpus 1.7 times longer than palm. Merus 1.5 times longer than carpus and 1.5 times
longer than ischium.
Third pereiopod 1.2 times longer than second pereiopod. Palm 1.8 times longer than fingers. Fingers and palm
sparsely setose; tips of fingers slightly hooked. Carpus 1.4 times longer than palm. Merus 1.4 times longer than
carpus and 2.3 times longer than ischium.
Fourth pereiopod reaching to about middle of scaphocerite. Propodus and dactyl setose. Dactyl slightly hooked.
Propodus 1.3 times longer than carpus. Merus 1.4 times longer than carpus and 1.8 times longer than ischium.
Fifth pereiopod not reaching base of scaphocerite. Propodus and dactyl setose. Dactyl slightly hooked. Propodus
1.8 times longer than carpus. Merus 1.5 times longer than carpus and 2.4 times longer than ischium.
Dorsal surface of pleon smooth medially; pleura smooth, densely pitted; pleomeres strongly setose on ventral
posterior margin.
Telson with 2 posteriorly directed spiniform tubercles caudolaterally; surface with tiny setae. Posterior half of
tail fan membranous.
Uropodal protopod with single posteriorly directed spiniform tubercle on distal margin. Endopod with 2
posteriorly directed spiniform tubercles in middle and on outer margin of mesial lobe. Exopod with transverse row
of posteriorly directed diminutive spiniform tubercles. The surface of the telson with tiny setose hairs.
Description of allotype female. (Fig. 3a). Adult. Differing from holotype follows: Soft uncalcified patch on
cheliped palm absent (Fig. 2h); chelae 2.3 times as long as broad and 4.5 times as long as height; palm of chela 1.1
times longer than fingers; large tubercles on propodal cutting edges smaller, indistinct and less prominent than in
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holotype. Carapace 1.5 times longer than chela; cervical groove with set of 3 anteriorly directed prominent tubercles
on both sides of cephalothorax. Pleon almost as broad as cephalothorax.
Thoracic sternal keel (Fig. 2e): Sternite X–XII with wide and sloped median keel anterior margin to base of
coxa of pereiopod 1 to base of coxa of pereiopod 3. Sternite XII with rounded narrow and small lateral processes.
Small median keel at coxopodite of pereiopod 4. Sternite XIII with parallel and wide lateral processes, angle of
lateral margin with large scoops.
Remarks. Cherax pulverulentus sp. nov., is genetically and morphologically most similar to Cherax pulcher,
which is endemic to the Teminabuan Region, Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia (Lukhaup 2015). Both species
may be easily distinguished using sequence divergence, and differ in the following characters: in body and chela
coloration; the length of the second pereiopod, which reaches behind the apex of scaphocerite in C. pulverulentus,
while reaching the middle of scaphocerite in C. pulcher; and chela is 1.9–2.3 times as long as broad and 3.9–5.0
times as its height in C. pulverulentus versus 2.4 times as long as broad and 5.1 times as its height in C. pulcher.
Both species can be found in two color forms, purple and blue (see below), which is the main shared feature that
makes them similar.
Selected morphological characteristics of all type specimens are given in Table 2. The holotype has cut-off
second and third pereiopod on the left side within the analysis (these legs are preserved with the specimen in the
same jar).
TABLE 2. Meristic counts and measurements (mm) of the holotype, allotype, and all paratypes of Cherax pulverulentus
sp. nov.
Characteristic
Holotype
MZB
Cru5782
Allotype
MZB
Cru5783
Paratypes MZB Cru5784
1 2 3 4
Sex male female female male female male
Coloration form blue purple blue purple blue purple
Rostral teeth number* 3/3 2/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3
Cervical grove lateral tubercle
number* 4/4 3/3 3/3 ¾ 3/3 4/3
Carapace length 49 41 41 39 42 37
Carapace width 22 17 18 17 19 15
Pleon width 20 16 18 15 19 14
Rostral length 14 11 10 9 11 9
Rostral width 6 5 5 4 5 4
Scaphocerite lamina length 14 10 10 10 13 10
Scaphocerite lamina width 5 4 4 4 5 3
Areola length 15 12 12 12 13 11
Areola width 8 5 6 8 7 5
Chela length 39 27 28 34 30 27
Chela width 18 12 13 17 13 14
Chela height 9 6 7 8 6 7
Chela palm length 24 15 15 20 17 17
Chela dactyl length 16 13 14 13 14 12
Chela propodus width 8 6 6 8 5 8
Chela dactyl width 5 4 5 4 4 4
Cheliped merus length 22 15 15 17 18 15
*left/right margin.
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Size. Holotype male, CL = 49 mm. Allotype female, CL = 41 mm. Paratype 1
female, CL = 41 mm. Paratype 2 male, CL = 39 mm. Paratype 3 female, CL = 42 mm. Paratype 4 male, CL =
37 mm.
Coloration in life. Two color forms exist sympatrically: purple and blue.
Purple form (Fig. 3b): Background color of body dark purple, marbled on carapace sides with numerous tiny
pale spots. Cephalothorax dorsolaterally near cervical groove with rounded light purple spot on each side. Pleon
with prominent light purple spot on both lateral sides on each pleomere, ventrolaterally pale. Chelipeds deep blue
with whitish joints, palm of propodus deep blue, outer lateral margin white, soft uncalcified patch in adult males also
white. Fingers deep blue with black distal third and orange tips. Row of blunt spines on inner lateral margin of palm
same color as palm. Ventral surface of palm and chela same color as dorsal side. Remaining pereiopods deep blue.
Uropods blue with white joints. Soft distal part of the caudal fan not pigmented. Antennal and antennular peduncle
blue, flagella light purple. Maxillipeds light blue. Ventral surface of cephalothorax and pleon pale, pleopods pale in
basal half and light blue in distal half. Dorsal surface of sixth pleomere with more or less prominent reddish cross-
shaped spot.
Blue form (Figs. 1, 3a, 6): Background color bluish, brownish, dark brown or grey. Purple coloration lacking.
Other coloration patterns similar to purple form.
Etymology. The meaning of the Latin term pulverulentus is “covered with dust” in reference to the many tiny
dot-like spots on the carapace of the new species.
Common name. The “dusty crayfish” is proposed as a common name.
Distribution. Based on information from the supplier, the new species occurs westward in surrounding tributary
streams to the Ayamaru Lake, Framu Subdistrict, Ayamaru District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province,
Bird's Head Peninsula, Indonesia (Fig. 4). The locality is on the Ayamaru limestone plateau about 250 m a.s.l. Future
detailed surveys of the locality are recommended to improve the knowledge of the new species distribution.
Phylogenetics. The phylogenetic relationship inferred from two mitochondrial gene fragments (COI and 16S)
results in a phylogram with a clearly defined species, C. pulverulentus sp. nov. (Fig. 5). The new species forms a
strongly supported clade sister to C. pulcher with model corrected differences of 3.8 and 2.1% for COI and 16S
genes, respectively. These two species form a clade as sister group to C. wagenknechtae, from which C. pulverulentus
sp. nov. differing by 6.8 and 3.8% for COI and 16S genes, respectively. From three newly analysed specimens, two
haplotypes were identified for both genes analysed (GenBank accession numbers PP751626 and PP751627 for
COI, PP751802 and PP751803 for 16S). Both the moderate level of sequence divergence and the morphological
differences described above warrant recognition of C. pulverulentus sp. nov. as distinct from the closely related C.
pulcher. Phylogenetic analyses showed that previously studied individuals from Hungarian thermal waters (Weiperth
et al. 2019; Bláha et al. 2022) belong to C. pulverulentus sp. nov. (OL806576, OL806577, OL790139 for COI and
OL828274, OL828272, OL780440 for 16S). These previously analysed individuals represent three other haplotypes
different from the type sequences of newly described species (Table 1). Additionally, two mitochondrial sequences
labelled as C. boesemani (NC026227, KM501042) contain gene fragments sharing the same haplotype with our
PP751626 (COI) and PP752802 (16S) haplotypes. This underlines the historical problem with proper identification
of the species of Cherax originating from New Guinea, which is very difficult without comparison with other related
species using basic molecular methods such as DNA barcoding.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Daisy Wowor for her advice. We thank Miloslav Petrtýl for certain photo documentation. This
study is a part of the activities of The Indonesian Crayfish Research Group and The Indonesian Centre for Research
on Bioinvasions.
References
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Parastacidae): the evidence from molecular data. Integrative Zoology, 11, 457–468.
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