Distribution and proposals for the conservation of Austropotamobius pallipes pallipes in a French department

A survey on the distribution of freshwater crayfish in Vienne (France) was undertaken between 1992 and 1995. This covered the indigenous white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes pallipes and three exotic species introduced from North America: the spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus, the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus and the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii. O. limosus has been present in France for a century and is the most widespread. The ten recorded populations of A. pallipes are threatened and proposals are made to combat against the spread of exotic species; only three native populations seem to be large enough to provide individuals for restocking.