Knowledges of natural history and distribution of the Japanese endangered freshwater crayfish Cambaroides japonicus in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, Japan

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  • 大館市内のニホンザリガニの分布に関する情報と博物学的知見
  • オオダテ シナイ ノ ニホンザリガニ ノ ブンプ ニ カンスル ジョウホウ ト ハクブツガクテキ チケン

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Abstract

The endangered freshwater crayfish Cambaroides japonicus (De Haan, 1841) is distributed in northern Japan. Morphology and molecular data suggest that the population of C. japonicus in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, northern Japan, originated through translocation of the species from Aomori Prefecture. Since the natural area of C. japonicus habitat has decreased considerably, and the natural habitat in Odate City is located at the southern limit of this species’ range, the natural habitat area in Odate City was designated as a national natural monument in 1934. Based on this Japanese law for the protection of cultural properties, the species is strictly protected by conservationists and the regional manager in Odate City. This study searched the historic archive of Odate City, Akita, Japan in Odate City Museum and Akita Prefectural Archives, having interviews with citizens in the city, to explore the natural history of C. japonicus in Odate City. As a result, it seems that the species occurred there around 1788-1790 or before, and the citizens of Odate City had utilized them for foods or medicine. Thus, people and the crayfish have shared a long history, of more than 230 years. Based on this long tradition, citizens of Odate City should conserve the natural habitat of C. japonicus, with the national and the local government.

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  • Hinai

    Hinai 14 (0), 53-61, 2019

    Odate City Museum

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