First records of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (decapoda cambaridae) from a small circum-Sardinian island (central mediterranean sea)

Abstract

The occurrence of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is documented for the first time in a small artificial lake located in a small circum-Sardinian island (San Pietro, South Sardinia, Italy), testifying the ongoing diffusion of this invasive crayfish also in a remote rural site. The presence of this species is a cause for concern given that this island is a hot-spot for herpetological endemism at a regional level. Our records, in conjunction with a number of recent observations made in inner Sardinia, indicate that the species is far more widespread in the area than previous studies have suggested. Because of its invasive history, eradication of this population is urgent and still economically profitable.