First record of the spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) in Slovenia - 300 km upstream from its known distribution in the Drava River

Abstract

The spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) is one of the most problematic invasive crayfish species in Europe. Here we report the first occurrence of spiny-cheek crayfish in Slovenia, 300 km upstream from the previously known records in the mouth of Drava River in Croatia. The species was not expected to colonize this area for at least two decades. This new isolated population will significantly alter our predictions of the ongoing colonization of the Drava River basin in Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.