Речные раки (Crustacea, Astacidae) Советского Союза. Сообщение I. Видовой состав и внутривидовые подразделения семейства Astacidae

Abstract

On the basis of modern concepts on classification of the family Astacidae its characteristic and key are given. By means of the key all the family's taxons presented in the Crustacea fauna of the USSR can be determined. It is recommended to develop researches on studying the composition of the Crustacea fauna in different geographical zones and regions of the USSR and Western Europe, paying peculiar attention to Astacus (Pontastacus) leptodactylus Eschsholt z, 1823. This species occupies the greltest area of distribution, is at the stage of speciation and expansion, represented the main object of catch in our country and, in spite of this, remains one of the least studied species of this family.